London 2012 - New Years Message

We are delighted about where we are in the development of the project against our 2-4-1 programme and proud of the work our teams have done to ensure we have met of our 2006 milestones. We are in great shape for the New Year.

In 2007, the project will change gear and begin to come to life for people all over the UK. Our commercial programme will move up a gear, as we appoint our first domestic partners. We will launch the new brand that will tell the world about the kind of Games we will hold in 2012 and we will develop our plans for the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012’s presentation at the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Games. We will also start to clear the Olympic Park site, clean up the land and put in the utilities, and develop more detailed venue designs in partnership with international sports federations, legacy partners and host boroughs.

This project is all about good planning. By planning Games and legacy together now we are making sure that we only build permanent venues if there is a long term legacy use. We can also make the most of the regeneration opportunity winning the Games has given us.

Working closely with our stakeholders, we have made major strides this year including:

• Work began and has progressed steadily to underground powerlines at the Olympic Park site
• A lock down of the site masterplan six years out from winning the bid with Games and Legacy planned together for the first time
• Publication of the timetable for delivery of the venues in Olympic Park
• CLM, our Delivery Partner, was appointed and has made a strong start.
• A nationwide roadshow took place in the summer explaining how everyone can be part of the 2012 Games
• Publication of the Transport Plan for consultation just one year in from winning the Games.
• Widely acclaimed stunning new designs were unveiled for the Aquatics Centre
• The start of demolition work at Eton Manor in the north of the park on time
• In December the London Development Agency secured agreement to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the Olympic Park site
  

Rigorous cost management is a fundamental pillar of this project and we are working with Government to ensure issues of budgets and funding are resolved early in the New Year and we are confident they will be. We must not lose sight of the wider benefits of this project. It is not simply about cost. It is also about value and ambition. Our vision for the Games has never just been a summer of great sport in 2012. It has always been much broader than that. We must not forget the ambition we have to use the Games to help regenerate East London, the opportunity they will present in terms of jobs and skills and the chance they will give us to promote sport for all – especially amongst young people.

Independent research conducted in early December reflected the public support for the Games (79%). This is the highest support level since we were awarded the Host City contract in July 2005. We will continue to communicate and engage communities right across the UK about the benefits and opportunities as we move forward.

There are challenges ahead but this project is built on strong foundations, and we look forward to making similar strong progress in 2007 as we move further ahead on the road to 2012.

- Ends -

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our Work in Progress blog http://blog.london2012.com