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OLYMPICS: 'Poor may be trampled on in 2012 gold rush'

THE 2012 Olympics may fail to benefit the poorest people in east London, a think-tank has warned.

Research by New Economics Foundation (NEF) has found small local businesses will not be able to compete with consultants, developers and large companies, who are better equipped to exploit commercial opportunities.

The report, entitled Fools' Gold, also warns that people will be priced out of the housing market as gentrification inflates the cost of living.

NEF say there are clear warning signs that the London Olympics may go in the same direction as previous games in failing to live up to regeneration promises.

The report calls for mechanisms to be put in place to guarentee a positive legacy for those most in need.

NEF fear land will be sold off to the highest bidder to repay massive debts and point out that only 11 per cent of the 500 Olympic contracts awarded so far have gone to companies in the five Olympic boroughs.

It says strict branding rules mean local community organisations are unable to leaverage any value from the Games.

NEF also say multi-national companies, which have won lucrative sponsorship contracts, have no obligation to sub-contract to local businesses or employ local people.

Josh Ryan-Collins, NEF researcher and co-author of the report, said: "Urgent action must be taken to prevent the communities of East London being trampled in the Olympic gold rush.

"The regeneration legacy was not just an enlightened addition to the Games's plan which would be good to achieve if possible.

"It was central to London's original Olympics bid. Promises and undertakings were made in the bid on behalf of the city and the nation; these must be achieved if we are all to keep faith with the assurances made to the world on our behalf."

The report set out a ten-point rescue plan which the think-tank insists can ensure benefits for local people.

It says community benefit should be considered when during the tendering process and contracts broken down to allow local businesses to bid.

The NEF also called for local community groups to be given a place on the Olympic and regeneration board and the creation of a asset-holding body to ensure assets are owned by the local community.

The London Development Agency insisted that it ignores to facts to say not enough is being done.

12:30pm Monday 21st April 2008

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Posted by: mr Khalid, Walthamstow on 2:11pm Mon 21 Apr 08
is spendeded so much the pepals mony here and no giveded even the afordbal hoses for the poor pepal to live juster maker the trak for the run and swim pole for the parson rich. after meybe the olimpic gronds haveded no paron go becose just derlict and emty and go like place before drug drink rubish pepal crimeded and no poilcemens go becose dark street and ful bad parsons? must make hoses comunty and lesure for thre pepal to useseded and meybe circas and funsfares
Posted by: Joe schmoo, elsewhere on 3:34pm Mon 21 Apr 08
why dont you tell that to the anti-semite livingstone.
Posted by: Mr Codgers, Snaresbrook on 5:02pm Mon 21 Apr 08
The last thing we need after the Olympics is for the area to be flooded with families of ferals running riot in open public places daubing everywhere with graffiti.

The site should be soley occupied by those on a minimum of 100k P.A. The whole area should be gated and have a security system to prevent all ferals, drug dealers, beggars, DVD salesmen and general riff-raff from entering thus making the site one of the most sort after places of interest and a residential haven.

I mean look at The Dome as an example? Four hundred million pounds of public money to create a one year disaster. Privately owned and secure now it is one of the most sucessful UK attractions generating millions.
Posted by: Joe schmoo, elsewhere on 7:39pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Mr Codgers wrote:
The last thing we need after the Olympics is for the area to be flooded with families of ferals running riot in open public places daubing everywhere with graffiti.

The site should be soley occupied by those on a minimum of 100k P.A. The whole area should be gated and have a security system to prevent all ferals, drug dealers, beggars, DVD salesmen and general riff-raff from entering thus making the site one of the most sort after places of interest and a residential haven.

I mean look at The Dome as an example? Four hundred million pounds of public money to create a one year disaster. Privately owned and secure now it is one of the most sucessful UK attractions generating millions.
well, who'se going to want to live in hackney/stratford anyway.

might be very trendy to a select few, but in reality its always been a bit of a dump.
Posted by: Stop The Olympic Con, Walthamstow on 11:51am Tue 22 Apr 08
It isn't only the poorest locally who won't be getting anything from the Olympics,it's everyone in Waltham Forest.

All we are going to do is pay for the **** games for years and years to come whilst hordes of east european building workers earn the construction big bucks and export them back to their homes, and multi national corporations walk off with the rest.

We were all conned by the Labour party over the Olympics, there is nothing in it for us and there never was.
Posted by: Stella, Leyton on 2:05pm Wed 23 Apr 08
mr Khalid wrote:
is spendeded so much the pepals mony here and no giveded even the afordbal hoses for the poor pepal to live juster maker the trak for the run and swim pole for the parson rich. after meybe the olimpic gronds haveded no paron go becose just derlict and emty and go like place before drug drink rubish pepal crimeded and no poilcemens go becose dark street and ful bad parsons? must make hoses comunty and lesure for thre pepal to useseded and meybe circas and funsfares
I all fairness if I'm paying my tax towards something, I would rather it go on an olympic stadium than to subsidise the incomes (or lack of in most cases) of poor people. I don't see why I should work hard and pay through my nose so that they can have an easy life. The Olympics could potentially bring a lot of prosperity to the area, what do these people have to offer? Hoodies, muggers, car thiefs and murderers? Oh and a local community that can't even speak/ read and write in the english language correctly. Get to school, get educated, learn english (it's free, courtesy of us tax payers and the labour government) and then get a decent job so that you be one of those who is in a more privaledged position, instead of moaning in bearly legible text!!
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