Gearing up for the Games
View video from the Olympic Delivery Authority on youtube (4m 46s flashplayer required, broadband connection recommended).
Four years before London 2012, London is preparing for the Games. Sport England South West and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) are gearing themselves up for the Olympics in 2012. As part of this exciting and profound project, the South West RDA is working with Sport England South West to develop a strategy for the South West Region, which will reflect the aims of the Nations & Regions Group, but will also be tailored to ensure the South West benefits from the opportunities provided by London hosting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Our objectives are to create
- a “narrow” and fast moving executive steering group
- a broad and inclusive South West England 2012 Group (SWE 2012)
- a South West Olympic Office with a strong executive function, led by a director level appointment
- a framework for local groups, at some sort of sub regional (probably county) level, to include county sport partnership directors and South West RDA heads of operations, but also to build on the informal groups that have emerged -for instance the Dorset Olympic steering group has been convening for nearly 3 years and would be the logical structure on which to build within Dorset. Other natural partners within these groups include the ‘business links’ organisations
- Support for the notion that the South West England 2012 Group should be executive in nature and should only comprise key decision makers at Chief Executive Officer / Chairman level.
Sport England and SWRDA have deveoped a detailed structure You can click on the links on the right for progress reports.
The region has ten facilities with a recent history or capacity to host international events. They are Badminton; Bath Rugby; Bristol Arena; Cheltenham Racecourse; Gloucester RFC; Gloucestershire CCC; Millfield; St Mellion; University of Bath; Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. For a full analysis of the Sporting and Cultural fabric of the South West, click here (pdf, 4.76mb). For a map of facilities in the South West, click here (pdf, 119kb).
London’s proposals for the 2012 Olympiad reflect the belief that, as important as the Games are as an event, they are equally importantfor the involvement which they generate; for the way in which they raise awareness of what sport has to offer; and for the legacy of increased opportunity which can remain long after the closing ceremony. For a detailed narrative of the Olympic legacy, click here. Of course, it's easy to see what the 2012 Olympic Games will bring to London, but what about the South West? Why should we be supporting the bid?
As part of the planning work to date LOCOG has reviewed the 'Nations & Regions Group' (NRG), which was set up during the bidding phase to develop support for the Bid across the UK and are proposing to set up a structure, led by this group, which will ensure delivery of UK-wide benefits from London hosting the Games in an effective, co-ordinated way:
- from inspiring greater sporting involvement to
- hosting major events and preparation camps,
- increasing tourism,
- providing goods, services and volunteers and
- leaving a lasting legacy for the whole community.
The Region will have a representative on the Nations & Regions Group, which will involve senior representation from Regional Development Agencies and Regional Sports Boards. Charles Allen will be the Chair.
The Nations and Regions Group representtive from the South West South West' is Ged Roddy - Chair of Sport England South West. He will be supported by Juliet Williams and Nick Buckland from the South West RDA.
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