Yorkshire Unveils Strategy For London 2012
21st May 2007
The Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games today unveiled its strategy for maximising the benefits of London 2012 to the region.
The strategy document – Yorkshire Gold – identifies five Golden Opportunities which will help the region to fully capitalise on the benefits that the Games can provide. The Committee, which is made up of representatives of the region’s major public bodies and local authorities, have worked together to develop the strategy and will now take it forward and implement the plans over the next five years.
Martin Havenhand, Executive Chair of the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games, said: “The Games coming to London will be the greatest event the UK has ever witnessed and will put the country as a whole on the world stage.
“From day one Yorkshire led the way in supporting the bid and now has the chance to take that support to the next stage and see the region reap some real benefits”.
“Yorkshire Gold intends to use the Games in 2012 to help deliver the Region’s existing Strategic Priorities for the Economy; Sport; Tourism and Culture and targeted action plans have been produced. To achieve the proposed outcomes we have identified five Golden Opportunities – putting sport centre stage; creating healthy and cohesive communities; delivering a carnival of culture; enhancing the profile and tourist potential of the region and winners in business”.
“The organisations that are represented on the committee all have areas of responsibility in order to ensure these Golden Opportunities are turned into reality. We truly believe that this is a unique opportunity for the region to come together and take advantage of this fantastic, once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said:
"The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games can benefit industries and communities right across the UK - but only if the right plans are put in place now. The rewards are all to play for, so I'm delighted Yorkshire and Humber have produced such a comprehensive game plan for winning their share of the spoils.
"By focussing on sport, communities, culture, tourism and business, Yorkshire and Humber are in line to really make the most of the once-in-a-generation opportunity that London 2012 offers."
The five Golden Opportunities which will help the region to maximise the benefits to the region of the 2012 Games are:
1. Putting Sport Centre Stage - Developing the sporting talent, facilities and infrastructure by channelling funding into facilities improvement programmes; enhancing people based skills and capacities; supporting club and activities; promoting active recreation and developing sporting talent in the region.
2. Healthy and Cohesive Communities - Enhancing capacities and skills in order to ensure communities are connected to the learning, volunteering and physical activity opportunities connected to the Games.
3. A Carnival of Culture - Delivering Yorkshire’s input into the Cultural Olympiad, a four year festival of culture celebrating the Games and helping to stoke the interest an enthusiasm of young people.
4. Enhanced Profile and Tourist Potential - Developing a comprehensive plan to market the region as a vibrant destination for those attracted by the 2012 Games.
5. Winners in Business - Maximising the region’s economic benefit from the Games by ensuring the region’s businesses are best placed to capitalise on the opportunities presented by London 2012.
The Yorkshire and Humber region is widely acknowledged to have led the way in its support of London’s bid for the 2012 Games with a high profile and sustained campaign which explained the potential benefits to the region of London mounting a successful bid.
The bid support brochure produced by Yorkshire Forward and its partner organisations was one of only a handful of documents which were available to the International Olympic Committee during the bid process and Lord Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, has publicly thanked his home county for its support during the Bid and the run-up to the Games.
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