The conference included an excellent panel discussion about the challenges for equality and inclusion, including attitudes, reaching out to communities and making sure that we deliver sustainable employment. The panel also reflected on the areas that they felt that London 2012 could have the most significant impact – this included education, local communities and legacy.
On Tuesday we facilitated a taster day on the Olympic Park giving disabled people an opportunity to experience what its like to work in construction. Jonathon Shaw, Minister for Disability, was on site to award us with the 'two ticks' symbol which means that the ODA guarantees interviews for disabled people that meet job criteria. LOCOG has also been awarded the two ticks.
The Minister and our disabled candidates had a go on the digger machine with much success picking up golf balls and placing them in different pots. We all had fun and heard from disabled people working on the Olympic Park who were positive about being involved in London 2012 and working after long spells of being out of work.
LOCOG held recruitment events on Monday for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people, and on Wednesday for people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, which were well attended by external guests. A definite a highlight was LOCOG’s launch of Attitude over Age, with a fantastic performance from the Zimmers, a group of older people, with a lead singer who is 92. They sang hits amongst other things the My Generation (a la Who), and Fight for the Right to Partee (a la Beasty Boys).
Thursday we held a taster day for Women and we were joined by Jeanette Arnold leader of the GLA, who drove a 360 machine whilst other women drove the 35 tonne dumper truck – really exciting I can tell you, so much I want to have a go myself.
![Diversity_Week_launch_100[1]](/mm/archived/blog/images/archive/2009/03/diversity-week-launch-100-1-.jpg)
