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Londoners in the dark over 2012 Olympics
18.06.09
More than half of Londoners feel they need more information about the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, a survey today reveals.
With just three years to go before the Games begin 55% of residents said they knew only a little, not very much or nothing about the current plans.
But 75% said they were pleased that London would be hosting the event, according to the survey commissioned by London Councils, a lobby organisation for the capital's 33 local authorities.
Stratford in east London, where the Olympic Park will be based, was the most widely-known site after being identified by 43% of Londoners.
Despite Wimbledon being the venue for the 2012 tennis competition and some football being played at Wembley Stadium, 32% of residents could not name any of London's sporting venues for the Games - while 73% could not name any of the sports locations outside of London.
Many of the football venues - including the Millennium Stadium, St James' Park, Old Trafford, Hampden Park and Villa Park - are outside London.
There is also the canoe and kayak slalom event at the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre on the edge of the 1,000-acre Lee Valley regional park in Hertfordshire.
Eton Dorney near Windsor hosts the rowing and flatwater canoe competition, while Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, on England's south coast, stage the sailing competitions.
Londoners' thoughts were gathered through eight focus groups and interviews with 1,020 residents.
Londoners were not only positive about the Games but 47% said they were planning on watching the sporting events and a third saying they were interested in becoming a volunteer.
But there were clear concerns about the practicalities of staging the event including how well transport infrastructure can cope and the long-term cost implications.
Among the potential "negative" aspects identified, 75% said the huge debts that the country will have to pay, 75% said the large increases in council tax to pay for it and 74% spoke of increases in traffic congestion.
The researchers claim the results highlight the high levels of discrepancy between what Londoners rate as important outcomes of the Games and their belief that they are likely to be delivered.
The highest level of discrepancy surrounds keeping the debt from the Games to a minimum, with 87% stating that this was very important, but only 31% stating that they believe it is likely to be achieved, the survey found.
In addition, 77% of Londoners rated more affordable housing as an important legacy outcome, but only 48% believe that it is likely to be delivered.
The survey also found that 92% of Londoners stated that better transport infrastructure was an important aspect of the legacy, whilst 73% believed that this was likely.
Many Londoners were confident there would be long-term benefits or a legacy from the Games but 37% did not know what the often-used term legacy meant.
And 37% felt that the most important improvement would be a better transport infrastructure.
At first a fifth of residents said that more jobs coming to east London and better access to sports facilities would be a good legacy of the Games but, once prompted, this jumped to 74% and 79% respectively.
London Councils is calling for a campaign to ensure Londoners are kept up to date about the benefits from the Games.
Work has also begun to try and ensure that any legacy can be felt across the capital and not just around the Olympic Park.
London Councils chair Merrick Cockell said: "It is an honour for the capital to host the 2012 Games, and I am delighted that the vast majority of Londoners feel the same way.
"The legacy from this historic event must be for all Londoners - not just those closest to the Olympic Park.
"Boroughs will be vital in delivering the legacy of the Games and our research clearly shows a need for a London-wide legacy board.
"We have teamed up with the Mayor to achieve this goal."
Reader views (6)
Where is your pride, Britain? Get involved, volunteer, move things forward and stop complaining. You're next on the stage and you need to know your lines.
- Lh, Manchester, UK
The only real winners[apart from the organizers who have their fingers in the pie],are the Countries that lose their bids for the Olympics.
Here in Vancouver,we have the upcoming Winter Olympics in 2010 and the cost overruns are 100%
- Eddie, vancouver canada
I couldn't care less about about the unwanted games and I've yet to meet a single person who feels any differently. Please take them elsewhere.
- John Gilhooly, West London
Here's some info: The London Olympics will be a lead balloon; will come in at double its budget - and all Council Tax paying Londoners will be paying for it, one way or another, for two decades or more.
Happy with that?
- Ted, London
I know that it costs me about £20 a year extra in council tax, how much extra per year in other taxes and for how long? Who wants to bet that the extra £20 isn't taken off after the games? And for anyone not living on the Crossrail link how is it improving our transport infrastructure? There's definitely an elephant in the room and it's very white.
- Bob, Cheam
It isn't only Londoners who are in the dark. U.K. tax payers are also in the dark. We have absolutely no idea as to what this debacle is going to cost us other than to say that our great- great- great-grandchildren will be paying for it. Tessa Jowell was unable to provide accurate costings for refurbishing her office - who would trust her to be truthful about the final cost of the games?
- R.F., Yorks, UK
