London 2012 blog

Tuesday night saw the final Evening Standard London Influential’s debate for 2008, at the RCA’s Great Room, which features James Barry's celebrated paintings 'The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture' on the upper walls. The venue was filled to capacity with 200 Londoners; the panel was Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Will Self columnist and author, Kate Hoey MP and GLA Commissioner for Sport, Andrew Gilligan columnist and Seb Coe.

Each member of the panel gave their individual view of the benefits or otherwise of the Olympics being staged in London, the debate was then opened up with questions from the floor. The questions were wide ranging covering topics such as the budget, sporting legacy, infrastructure and venues. It was interesting to hear the responses and the debate between the panelists which was well considered and at times robust.


The debate was bought to an end with a vote by a show of hands and a large majority of the audience voted that the 'THE OLYMPICS ARE GOOD FOR LONDON' which was a great result - and by no means a foregone conclusion at the outset.