The Olympic legacy
As we await the opening of the Paris Olympics, it’s a fitting time to look back on the legacy achieved since the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The London games cost £8.8 billion to stage. However, it had already delivered £14.2 billion in economic value by 2014, with sustainable long term outcomes for the community.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the largest urban park project in Europe in the last 150 years, exemplifies long-term community benefits. This is because all Olympic venues still actively used as event, culture or employment hubs.
The London Olympics spurred major infrastructure projects like the Elizabeth Line and Westfield Stratford. Continued development at park sites show the legacy of the Games twelve years on. Source: Dataloft by PriceHubble (https://inform.dataloft.co.uk/), Mayor of London and London Legacy Development Corporation. July 2024.
Who remembers what?
Remember the bickering (especially from the Midlands & The North) about how much it was costing?
Who remembers how many medals we GBR won?
Do you remember the ‘Opening’ & ‘Closing’ ceremonies?
Those three questions above are the key to 2012!
Money
Everyone was moaning (even some Londoners). Yet 12 years on and still ongoing, there are massive positives the surround 2012. Financially it has bought wealth to a much deprived part of London.
It is worth noting..
Two years ago (2022) The Commonwealth Games came to Birmingham & at the time the £750 million price tag caused much annoyance at a time that many families were struggling in the UK.
Yet it bought in £1.2 billion (£1,200 million). Most of that being spread around the West Midlands.
London 2012 continues to bring in money which in itself has created jobs which then means more housing is needed.
Medals
How many medals did we win?
65 in total. 29 Gold, 17 Silver & 19 Bronze.
29 Golds! Who can forget ‘Super Saturday’ Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford & Mo (later to become Sir Mo) Farah. Also:
Anthony Joshua, Luke Campbell, Ed McKeever, Jade Jones, Nicola Adams, Charlotte Dujardin, Chris (later to become Sir Chris) Hoy, Laura (Later to become Dame Laura Rebecca Kenny) Trott, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Carl Hester, Alistair Brownlee, Andy (later to become Sir Andy) Murray, Jason (later to become Sir Jason) Kenny, Scott Brash, Peter Charles, Ben Maher, Nick Skelton, Ben (later to become Sir Charles Benedict) Ainslie, Joanna Rowsell, Dani King, Katherine Copeland, Sophie Hosking, Alex Gregory, Tom James, Pete Reed, Andrew Triggs-Hodge, Victoria Pendleton, Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Peter Kennaugh, Geraint Thomas, Katherine (later to become Dame Katherine) Grainger, Anna Watkins, Philip Hindes, Peter Wilson, Tim Baillie, Etienne Stott, Bradley (later to become Sir Bradley) Wiggins, Helen Glover, & Heather Stanning?
GBR actually went on to win 67 medals in Rio 2016. The first time ANY Olympic team has own more medals at a games immediately after hosting!
Opening & Closing ceremonies
Surely no one can forget either? Can they? Paul McCartney singing Hey Jude, The Spice Girls reuniting, HM The Queen with Daniel Craig! Plus much much more. Danny Boyle set the bar so high, it’s difficult to see anyone beating either ceremony!
Harlow & the Olympics
Harlow got a golden post box because Laura Trott was born in Harlow. However, she grew up in Cheshunt so they have one as well.
Harlow is just a 20 min drive (on a good day) from Queen Elizabeth Park. It’s only 10 mins from The Lea Valley White Water Centre.