London hosting Olympic Games

Question 1

3 reasons for London as the host city

Answer 1

• Regeneration of derelict areas
• London presentation included the youth and was diverse unlike the paris one
• Government willing to over spend - estimate of 2.2bn turned into 10bn actually spent

Question 2

why Stratford was chosen

Answer 2

• Needed regeneration
• income and education lower than rest of london
• High rates of unemployment
• High population density
• Close to central london
• Athletes village turned into homes for locals
• Urban regeneration eg. swimming pools = public after games

Question 3

why were the olympics not the best idea

Answer 3

• Participation in sport increased but only for a short term
• Could have spent the money more effectively regenerating that area
• Still recovering from the financial crisis 2008
• Less income than spend (3.5bn compared to 10bn)

Question 4

costs

Answer 4

• cost nearly £10 billion paid
• disrupted local communities and 380 businesses relocated
• Cost of living in the area for poorer people increased.

Question 5

social benefits

Answer 5

• 2012 education programme “Get Set” worked with over 25,000 schools to promote sport
• Better image for East End of London
• £300 million for “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park” (housing for 11 000, schools, health centres, business space and sports venues)
• Transport for London invested £6.5 billion in transport infrastructure.
• Ten railway lines and 30 new bridges

Question 6

economic benefits

Answer 6

• 1.2% reduction in unemployment rate
• The Westfield Stratford shopping centre created 10,000 permanent new jobs
• estimated generation of £16.5 billion from 2005 to 2017
• total of £4.5 billion spent by olympic tourists

Question 7

environmental benefits

Answer 7

• 300,000 plants were planted in the Olympic Park’s wetland area.
• 98 % of demolition waste recycled
• 45 hectares of habitat with a 10-year management plan
• 2.3 million cubic metres of contaminated soil excavated and cleaned