However, as the Community Engagement Manager of the new Lea River Park (a soon-to-be green corridor, located in the lower Lea Valley just south of the Olympic Park), I'm interested in the further-reaching changes that could happen around here – the huge potential benefits that the Games could bring to local communities and waterways in the wider East London area.
These types of changes may never be as immediately obvious as the development at Stratford, but one great example has been the creation of the 'Changing Places' programme. This is a London 2012 initiative which is looking to use the enthusiasm for the Games as way of improving the environment around the Olympic Park and other Games venues.
Since the programme's launch in spring 2009, Thames21 along with a number of other organisations, have helped Changing Places deliver a series of projects that have improved the environment and provided pre-Games volunteering opportunities for local people.
This weekend Thames21 helped Changing Places deliver a project at Three Mills Island in Bromley-by-Bow. Thirty six volunteers braved the grey skies and rain and donated their Saturday morning to lend a hand. We removed junk from the canal, cleared the towpaths of unwanted vegetation, litter and fly-tipping, weeded paths and dug in new hedging plants, a similar set of tasks to previous events.
But what was particularly special about this event was that the programme reached the major milestone of 1,000 hours of community volunteering. During this time a number of areas have been made more pleasant and by working with local volunteers we have been able to undertake projects that just wouldn't have otherwise been possible.
This weekend's event has demonstrated one of the benefits that the community is already experiencing by London hosting the 2012 Games. But more importantly it has attracted new people into volunteering that will ensure projects like those run by Thames21 continue to be successful long after London's Games have finished.
Since childhood I have been captivated by the Olympics; that goose-bumpy feeling of watching a great win after a competitor strives to succeed. To me that is the essence of the Olympic spirit; determination to be better and raise aspirations. Thames21 are certainly determined to improve the environment, and by working with such fantastic local volunteers, we are sure to achieve a record-breaking win.
Thames21 is London's leading waterways charity. Find future volunteering events at www.thames21.org.uk
The Lea River Park is a London Thames Gateway Development Corporation project. Read more about the Park at www.leariverpark.org
For further information on the Changing Places Programme please see www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteering/changing-places.php
