2012 – the untold story
As I write Archbishop Desmond Tutu is speaking in the Great Room at an event organised with the Olympic Organising Committee. I have noticed a correlation between how much I want to hear a speaker and how likely it is that Barbara will have double booked me with another event. I was able to welcome the Archbishop but not to stay and I fear that however fascinating is the NCVO working dinner to discuss the role of third sector membership organisations, I will probably be left feeling I have missed out. I suppose there’s always the podcast and video.
My role was so minimal I didn’t even feel able to use to make my own brief comment on the Olympics. If I had it would have been this…..
” It may be a post hoc rationalisation but it seems to me that the Olympics we deem to have succeeded are ones we associate with a strong story about the host city and country. Think Barcelona and Spain’s emergence as a modern democracy. Think Sydney and Australia’s projection as a young and dynamic country. Think China and the demonstration of its status as a new superpower. But what was Atlanta’s story. And what was Athens’?
In 2005 we won the bid on such a story – of London as a diverse city and our Olympic vision of inclusion and participation. But what has happened to that story since? As far as I know the latest statistics show that sporting participation in London has failed to increase since 2005. Tell me if I’m wrong, but I see precious few fruits of the Mayor’s much vaunted sporting strategy.
If we are to have a story to tell about Britain and London in 2012 we better start on it now. Because if we don’t have our own story, and if don’t make it real through a successful strategy to make the Olympics truly inclusive and a catalyst for participation then we will leave it to others to write that story for us. And what they say may be less than flattering.”
Come to think of it, I guess it was best I didn’t get the chance to speak. There’s nothing worse than a party pooper.
Related posts:
- Welcome Boris – some questions while you are here The RSA House is hosting London Mayor Boris Johnson today....
Comments
5 Comments on 2012 – the untold story
-
Michael (in UK) on
Fri, 5th Feb 2010 12:34 am
-
Michael (in UK) on
Fri, 5th Feb 2010 12:55 am
-
Dave Boyle on
Fri, 5th Feb 2010 11:47 am
-
Mark Dolley on
Sat, 6th Feb 2010 8:26 pm
-
Alison on
Tue, 9th Feb 2010 5:00 pm
“There’s nothing worse than a party pooper.” Quite right.
Did you happen to hear Eddie Izzard interviewed by Mark Lawson on Radio 4 Front Row a month or so ago? His passionate (and reasoned) support for the London Olympics changed my thinking on the topic. He explained his remarkable marathon running as a sort of personal “transformational change” project on his own fitness and health – and argued that the Olyympics should be an impetus to other less fit people to follow at least something of what he has done.
(on those lines anyway – I’d love to hear the interview again).
I agree that there so far as I have seen, there has been very little official work on the participation objectives – we have to hope that as in some of the events, the excitng action happens in the last stage.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pbsgx
For anyone interested – the interview is still available.
Pesonally, I think the whole thing is terrific – but the sport bit at the end especially so. Interview starts at about 8.50 minutes into the programme, the sport bit at about 18 minutes.
What a guy!
As one of the third sector membership people, I can only apologise! I hadn’t realised Archbishop Tutu was in town and for my own part, was sorry to have missed John Lanchester at the LSE.
Anyway, I think the danger is that the story was always likely to be flawed and based on wishful thinking; the notion that elite level performance can link to participation gains has no evidence in favour, and quite a bit of evidence against it. That’s not to say it couldn’t be done, but way back after we won the games, you knew that the effort of will across varying agencies, policy areas, politicians and so on needed to transform the assertion into reality was highly unlikely to be achieved.
See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/nov/30/Olympics2012.politics1
Mathew,
We spoke some months ago about a mass participation legacy project I’ve been working on. As you may recall, I was formerly Tom Pendry’s researcher, and then the IOC’s Head of Communications for the Olympic Games. You explained the concepts you’d developed and why you felt they’d failed.
I’ve cracked it.
Shoot me a mail with your mobile and I’ll tell you what’s happened. Could use your help. Will be working all weekend.
Best,
Mark
I read your comments today on the Olympics with interest as this morning our team from a Central London borough (officers and councillors) visited the Olympic Park in Stratford and were lucky enough to be taken around by Paul Deighton (Chief Exec, LOCOG) and David Higgins (Chief Exec, ODA). Their enthusiasm for Europe’s biggest construction project was infectious and seeing the changes in terms of the buildings and venues was amazing from our last visit over two years ago. What really struck me though was how much that 2012 effect can make the difference- it’s clear to see in the East London boroughs where the local communities are already benefiting from new jobs and housing and will hopefully be left with a lasting regeneration legacy post Games time. For us in Central London the challenges are wide varied and interesting. London unlike Athens, Atlanta and Barcelona before is already a worldwide tourist destination and must maintain that reputation at all costs. We have a team of colleagues working with key partners to ensure that our operational plans are in place in order for the City to run smoothly in the midst of the sporting competitions, cultural events, and the inevitable party atmosphere that we will see during summer 2012.
Here we have already found that the 2012 effect can be used as a catalyst to get our communities volunteering at big events such as Chinese New Year or our young people to become Sports Ambassadors championing sport and physical activity amongst their peers in schools. We have started local cultural trails and already linked local community groups with some of our world class arts and cultural institutions- using 2012 to open up new opportunities to all. For me the drip drip of this momentum is so important to the overall success of the London Olympic and Parlaympic Games. You might be a cynic now but I say watch this space as I like to think everyone can be converted in time..It may sound cheesy but I believe in the power of the Olympic spirit; enough to encourage me and some friends to begin playing badminton and try new things (and this is coming from a girl who always hated PE because it wasn’t inclusive at my school!). 2012 should offer something for everyone and be the biggest and best showcase for London on a global scale. I can’t wait.
Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Twitter @RSAMatthewRSA Bookshop
The RSA Bookshop, in partnership with Blackwell's the UK's leading academic bookseller, offers Fellows and friends an opportunity to purchase books and to explore our speakers’ ideas in greater detail. Visit the RSA Bookshop.