We will use the Games as a catalyst to generate the maximum economic, sporting, health and social benefits, and provide our people with opportunities to engage with the pride, passion and spirit of London 2012.
Planning and delivery
The region’s legacy plans have been developed and are being driven by the North West Steering Group, chaired by Andy Worthington (the North West member of the London 2012 Nations & Regions Group). This group brings together key partners responsible for each legacy theme, representatives from each sub-region in the North West, and key regional and Government agencies.
Alongside the North West Steering Group, there are also a number of legacy groups that have been established to drive forward specific strands of activity, including health, business and education.
Since 'Be Inspired' – the North West Legacy Framework for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games – was launched in May 2007, real progress has been made in helping to ensure the North West plays a full part in, and benefits from, the opportunities presented by London 2012.
Olympic Torch Relay
There will be a total of seven Olympic Torch Relay evening celebration events in the North West.
There are 90 North West communities located along the route of the Torch Relay, with 95% of the population within 10 miles of the route.
As part of its journey the Olympic Flame will be taken onto the Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, and carried by a Torchbearer along Crosby Beach, Sefton, where 100 cast iron figures are installed as part of sculptor Anthony Gormley’s 'Another Place' sculpture.
Cultural Olympiad
Over 1.5 million people have already engaged in the Cultural Olympiad in the North West, with £8.3 million generated for cultural projects in the region.
WE PLAY is the North West’s unique contribution to the build up and legacy of London 2012, and is primarily funded by Legacy Trust UK. A four-year, region-wide cultural programme, it supports the development of digital culture, outdoor spectacle and young producers through the three annual programmes of AND Festival, Blaze and Lakes Alive.
The London 2012 Festival opens in the Lake District on 21 June. Co-commissioned by Lakes Alive, London 2012 Festival, the Lake District National Park and We Play Expo, ‘On the Night Shift’ is a new show from French pyrotechnic and percussion wizards, Les Commandos Percu, and will feature a selected number of artists from the north of England.
Find out more about Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival projects in the North West
Pre-Games Training Camps
The region has seven agreements with overseas teams. The following teams have already signed up to train in Manchester ahead of London 2012:
- Australia Swimming
- US men's and women's Basketball teams
- Brazilian Paralympic team
- National Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee of Thailand.
Others outside of Manchester include the Namibian Paralympic team and Romanain Paralympic team in Knowsley. A number of Oceania National Olympic Committees have also signed an agreementwhich will see consortia from each sub region in the North West partnering with the 15 Pacific Island NOCs.
Confirmed to date, teams from 22 different nations will be preparing for London 2012 in the North West, including a number of Great British squads.
London 2012 is also helping to create a physical legacy in the region with the new National Indoor BMX Centre opening in Manchester in 2011. The £24 million complex will form the National Cycling Centre and become the training base of the GB Olympic and Paralympic Cycling teams.
Find out more about Pre-Games Training Camps
Inspire
There are nearly 300 Inspire projects across the North West, with a projected participation of over 1.1 million people including over 250,000 participating in sporting projects. Examples include ‘Face to face with Sport Science’ – where the sports team from Liverpool John Moores University visits local schools to share the sporting innovations that take place at the university – and Greater Manchester Police’s ‘Nowt 2 Do’ programme, providing young people with activities in areas of little or no current provision.
Get Set
As of January 2012, 2,721 schools had registered for the Get Set programme. This equates to 76% of schools in the region. Of these, 1,835 (51%) schools had been accepted as part of the Get Set Network.
Ormskirk School in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Rudheath Community High School Northwich, Hodge Clough Primary School, Oldham and Navigation Primary School in Trafford are all taking part in London 2012 ‘Support a Team’, helping their students prepare for the arrival of athletes and visitors from around the world to their communities.
Economic legacy
Over 250 North West businesses have won more than 400 Games-related contracts, with an estimated contract value of over £150m. These include:
- Ena Shaw of Merseyside – supplying curtains for the Olympic and Paralympic Village
- Dew Piling, Oldham – piling work for Aquatics Centre
- Icopal, Trafford – containment lining for the Copper Box
- Adlington Welding, Chorley – supply of welding equipment for the Olympic Stadium
- Ainscough Crane Hire, Wigan – crane hire for the bridges and highways on the Olympic Park
The London 2012 mascots were also born in the North West, formed from two drops of steel for the Olympic Stadium that was provided by a Bolton firm.
Volunteering
An ambassador programme of local volunteers is being created to support the visitor welcome across Greater Manchester. Launched in November 2011 by Deputy Chair of the Nations and Regions Group Jonathan Edwards, it is looking to recruit 300 people to provide friendly and helpful information to enhance the Games-time experience for visitors to the region.
Contact information
For more information on London 2012 in the Northwest visit www.nwfor2012.com
Follow the Northwest Nations and Regions team on Twitter @nwfor2012
