Olympics-Concern over London 2012 legacy - report
LONDON, July 1 |
LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - More needs to be done if the London 2012 Olympics are to leave the legacy promised when the city was chosen as Games host, a London Assembly committee said on Wednesday.
Organisers are falling short on delivering employment targets, tourism strategy and sports participation, the assembly's Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee said in a report.
"The promise of a legacy was a significant factor in London winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Urban and social regeneration, and increased sports participation, were to be the hallmarks of these Games," said Dee Doocey, chair of the committee.
"Some aspects are on track, but there are still areas that need more attention to deliver the promises that were made."
The report praised the clean-up of the former industrial site in Stratford, east London, where the Olympic Park is being built, and its green credentials, but said other aspects were of concern.
These included the failure to address gaps in the provision of sports facilities, especially for young people with disabilities.
The overall vision for the tourism strategy lacked detail and lacked funds, the report added.
It also said only 112 local unemployed workers had found work on the construction site, though it did recognise the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) had met its target of employing between 10 percent and 15 percent of the workforce from the five Olympic boroughs.
It recommended giving residents free or discounted access to sporting activities, and more jobs for local people.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, should develop a more effective tourism strategy, including better low budget accommodation and fair prices.
(Reporting by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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