Comments on: 2012 – the untold story http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/uncategorized/2012-the-untold-story/ Politics, brains, social action and the day to day life of the RSA’s chief executive Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alison http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/uncategorized/2012-the-untold-story/comment-page-1/#comment-5012 Alison Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:25 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2789#comment-5012 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. 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.

]]> By: Mark Dolley http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/uncategorized/2012-the-untold-story/comment-page-1/#comment-4978 Mark Dolley Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:26:36 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2789#comment-4978 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 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

]]> By: Dave Boyle http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/uncategorized/2012-the-untold-story/comment-page-1/#comment-4955 Dave Boyle Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:47:23 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2789#comment-4955 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/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/jul/27/olympics-legacy-vision-short-sighted http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/nov/30/Olympics2012.politics1 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/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/jul/27/olympics-legacy-vision-short-sighted

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/nov/30/Olympics2012.politics1

]]> By: Michael (in UK) http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/uncategorized/2012-the-untold-story/comment-page-1/#comment-4952 Michael (in UK) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:55:45 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2789#comment-4952 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! 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!

]]> By: Michael (in UK) http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/uncategorized/2012-the-untold-story/comment-page-1/#comment-4951 Michael (in UK) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:34:03 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2789#comment-4951 "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. “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.

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