Ministers Praise Award-winning Oda

With just weeks to go before the Olympic Games begin in London, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) was rewarded for its successful preparations for the greatest show on earth at the Sport Industry Awards ceremony on Wednesday 2nd May, receiving the Kantar Media Sport Business Achievement of the Year Award.

The ODA’s Chairman, Sir John Armitt, received the iconic Sport Industry Award trophy from the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, the Minister for Sport, and the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, the Shadow Minister for the Olympics, with both offering heartfelt congratulations and thanks for the work accomplished by the body.

The myriad challenges faced by any organisation preparing for an event on the scale of an Olympic Games have not prevented the ODA from completing a host of outstanding venues ahead of London 2012, transforming the landscape of east London in particular but with an impact reaching a great deal further afield.

The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP commented: The bid to host the 2012 Games in 2005 was not just based on strategy, passion and vision, but on a recognition that the bid book presented by London would result in a massive redevelopment of one of Europe’s most deprived areas in east London.

“In 2005 the proposed site of the Olympic Park was a derelict, contaminated eyesore that was a blot on the landscape of London. The transformation has been a staggering feat of planning, thought and logistics showing UK PLC at its absolute best.

The Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP commented: In terms of procurement, construction, and delivery, it has been a near faultless logistical performance. But where delivery of the park has reached new standards globally is in the health and safety of the construction teams and the development of a 21st century parkland that demonstrates world class ecological development.

The IOC has said ‘The Olympic Park is already a landmark in terms of environmental sustainability, urban development and architecture. Delivered perfectly on time by the ODA, the Olympic Park is a model of intelligent land redevelopment that successfully integrates a magnificent village and state of the art venues.'”

He concluded: Showcasing British design at its best, the Park will provide a place that athletes will relish, where legends will be created and where dreams will be fulfilled. This achievement is in no doubt our country’s first victory of the London 2012 Games.

Sir John Armitt said: It is a great privilege to be able to accept this on behalf of so many people who have built the Olympic Park – the ODA team and many others. The first gold medal of the Olympic Games has, I think, been won by Great Britain’s construction industry. The sport industry is a massive industry – it brings so much enjoyment to so many people. It’s what many people live for – the weekend’s football or the other activities they get into, so the Sport Industry Awards, recognising so many people who do so many great things for sport in so many ways is really wonderful – because this industry does so much for all of us.

The ODA’s prize continued an Olympic theme for the Kantar Media Sport Business Achievement of the Year Award, which in 2011 was won by the London 2012 Sponsorship Sales Team for its success in achieving the hugely ambitious financial targets set in 2005 despite the global financial crisis.

As winners of the Award, the ODA is also entitled to a package of research support from Kantar Media. Richard Brinkman, Head of KantarSport, a Kantar Media Solution, said: “The scale and importance of the Olympic Games means it comes as no surprise that the Kantar Media Sport Business Achievement of the Year Award has been awarded to a key stakeholder in the delivery of the Olympic Games for the second year in a row. We are delighted with the decision of the Sport Industry Awards judging panel and add our own congratulations to the ODA, whose hard work we will all enjoy this summer.”

Nick Keller, the Chairman of the Sport Industry Group, commented: The Olympic Delivery Authority has built the stage on which the greatest athletes in the world will play out the Olympic Games this summer. They have done so ahead of schedule, and transformed the landscape of east London and beyond. That Hugh and Tessa are here to present the Kantar Media Sport Business Achievement of the Year Award together is a demonstration of the power of the Olympic Games to bring people together from all around the globe – and even from across the floor of the House of Commons.

The official partners of the Sport Industry Awards are Barclays, Deloitte and Eurosport.