London 2012 Signs Post-games Contracts
With just 200 days to go to the beginning of the 2012 Games the Mayor of
London, Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, have
announced that hundreds of jobs have been secured as Balfour Beatty
WorkPlace and London based Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) sign up to
take on the running of key venues and facilities in the Queen Elizabeth
Park after the 2012 Games.
?These new contracts will create over
250 jobs, provide training and create new opportunities for small
businesses, all targeted at local communities in east London.
The
capital is now on track to achieve what no previous host city has done
by having long-term operators agreed for all the permanent venues before
the Games have even begun.
?Currently six of the eight venues
have operators in place and the Legacy Company is on track to identify
tenants for the Olympic Stadium and International Press and Broadcast
Centre before the opening ceremony in July.
?The Aquatics
Centre and Handball Arena will be operated by GLL, with over 800,000
users anticipated each year, the Aquatics Centre will become a major
community facility for use by local people after the Games and
accessible to all, with average prices the same as other local pool
facilities.
It will also be London and the South East’s swimming
facility for use in international competition and for training by
athletes.
The Handball Arena will be a flexible multi-use
facility in legacy and become the capital’s third largest arena with the
capacity to host concerts, shows, exhibitions, sports events and other
events.
?Balfour Beatty WorkPlace will operate the 114 metre
high ArcelorMittal Orbit, expected to attract up to a million visitors a
year, as part of its contract for facilities and estate management
across the Park, including maintenance of the park and visitor
facilities.
?The Prime Minister, David Cameron MP said: ‘As we
kick off 2012, the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the
Diamond Jubilee, this is the perfect time for the Cabinet to come
together and ensure we are doing absolutely everything we can to make
the most of this unique opportunity to showcase all the great things the
UK has to offer to the rest of the world.’
?’As Ministers visit
Olympic venues, businesses, schools and organisations associated with
2012 right across the UK, I want the message to go out loud and clear,
from tourism to business, sport to investment, we are determined to
maximise the benefits of 2012 for the whole country.’?
‘Today, as
we mark 200 days to go, and 6 out of the 8 Olympic venues having
already secured their future, we are well on track to delivering a
lasting legacy for the whole of Britain.’?
The Mayor of London
Boris Johnson added: ‘This a ringing endorsement of our 2012 legacy and
regeneration plans for east London and an amazing achievement by the
Legacy Company. To find operators to take over these world class
facilities so far ahead of the Games and to secure their commitment to
spread jobs and opportunities throughout the local communities is the
icing on the 2012 cake.’
?’We can now start the run in to a
fantastic year of celebration with huge pride and optimism that London
will stage a great Games delivering lasting sustainable benefits long
after the athletes have departed.’
