The West Midlands vision is to raise the profile of the region and deliver an Olympic moment for everyone in the West Midlands.
Through our work we will provide the inspiration for a legacy of opportunity for individuals, communities and businesses.
Ironbridge is lit in London 2012 brand colours for the launch of the Cultural Olympiad
Achieving our vision
We will achieve our vision by ensuring we celebrate the distinctiveness of the West Midlands region and play to our strengths. Our plans and projects are therefore focused on where we can make a real difference and shine nationally and internationally.
We have identified five central themes which underpin all West Midlands activity:
- Business and skills: We will use the 2012 Games to showcase West Midlands businesses and their capabilities to the world. We will do this by seizing market opportunities, raising ambitions and aspirations and helping to deliver a powerful voice for the West Midlands.
- Culture: The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad provides an excellent opportunity to showcase and celebrate the cultural assets of the region. Our cultural programme will raise the profile of the West Midlands as a place with a thriving, digitally-connected cultural sector.
- Sport and health: London 2012 provides a much needed vehicle to promote and drive up participation in sport in the West Midlands.
We will encourage innovation through our partnerships to achieve our aims and create a real and lasting legacy. We will also utilise the demonstration and festival effects of our culture programme to drive up community participation in the region. - Tourism and regional image: London 2012 provides our region with a special opportunity to showcase our strong cultural and sporting offer. We will make the West Midlands accessible to UK and international visitors through a programme of events and festivals. Major sporting events will reinforce the West Midlands as a sporting region accustomed to hosting national and international sporting events.
- Volunteering: Our main volunteering aim is to get people to volunteer for 2012 related programmes within the West Midlands and in London.
Major international sports events taking place in our region, the Culture Programme and the Community Games provide great volunteering opportunities which will continue to grow as the West Midlands rolls out its legacy.
In addition to these five themes, young people and equality and diversity are threads that run throughout the strategy.
Planning and delivery
The West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games was set up to coordinate the region’s response to London 2012. The Leadership Group brings together key representatives from each of the region’s six sub regions and from business, sport, culture, tourism, education and skills, as well as the Youth Parliament, disability interests and Government agencies.
Advantage West Midlands, the host organisation for the Leadership Group, also works with a range of partners to ensure the West Midlands maximises the opportunities London 2012 presents for the region.
To keep up to date with progress and opportunities in the West Midlands you can register to receive regular newsletters at www.wmfor2012.com
Contact us
For all enquiries related to the West Midlands’ plans to benefit from the 2012 Games email: mariannebell@advantagewm.co.uk
View full details of regional plans in the West Midlands
