The prospects for a proud Olympic legacy are bleak

John Patten

13 December 2008

John Patten, an Olympics adviser, warns that there is still much strategic thinking to be done for 2012 — not to mention the lax anti-terror measures at the construction sites

I had to be forcibly persuaded on to the rugby field at school. Now, to my amazement, I find myself advising the British Olympic Association. I sympathise with friends who become quite hysterical at the idea of my rubbing shoulders with Sir Clive Woodward and the titans of track and field. But the BOA wanted at least one member of the semi-detached and sceptical classes to be around as a counterweight to unrealistic tendencies.

The London Olympic dream is for athletic success during the biggest and best street parties these islands have seen, leaving a sporting legacy for future generations — and a regenerated East End.

The Chinese delivered a fabulous show, but they were lucky. They had brilliant choreography and the sort of rigid social discipline our government can only long for. They also had bottomless pockets. We are not so fortunate. Nevertheless, the chances of more Olympic medals for Team GB in 2012 look pretty good. But the odds of us having some memorable street parties to celebrate them are only fair, unless some superman choreographer is speedily appointed. The odds are even worse, alas, for a lasting legacy in London’s East End.

These testing times require firm and coherent decision-making from one supreme source, a Regeneration Corporation headed by a supremo, so that the short-term aims and long-term legacy of 2012 are fulfilled.

At the moment, no such organisation exists. Lots of individuals and an alphabet soup of acronyms crowd the decision-making stage instead. There is the Olympics Minister, there is the Mayor of London and all those ODAs, LOCOG, and the aforementioned BOA. Each should concentrate on its own target and seek coherent guidance from the as yet unordained supremo; that is the road to success.

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Tom Callaghan

December 11th, 2008 9:26am Report this comment

There is of course a simple solution. Let the Games stay in Beijing, where all the facilities, infrastructure, housing and so on have already been created. Whatever happens after the Games, I suspect there will be a lot of expensive white elephants around, which will take generations to pay off.

Andy

December 11th, 2008 7:18pm Report this comment

The Govt will never agree to an ex-military chappie running it, but that's what you need to bring it in on time and on budget. Also we need to stop duplicating stuff that will be dismantled (shooting, 3DE/SJ) and use existing venues that are already up to spec. Better still, we could ask Paris if their bid is still open ...

Jane Bodington

December 16th, 2008 2:47am Report this comment

the word 'legacy' is enough to make anyone shudder. Shades of the B-Liar.

A common good as a result maybe, but nothing a pol can claim to be a result of their ineptitude and overspending.

Frugality games, or at least sensible games.

I never watch it anyway. It's so divorced from real life. And real sporting events. I feel sorry for someone who spent all their life eg hurdling, they win the medal, and then, who cares, it isn't sexy, it doesn't sell advertising space. And if they come fourth, their life is over. But they are amazing athletes, just no-good fourth in the world. And then your life is over.
Couch potatoes rule, no Olympics there.

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