De Coubertin Lecture outlines London's opportunities

The lecture, presented in association with the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and the British Olympic Foundation, will examine the power of the Games to inspire significant change in the economy, culture, infrastructure, environment and image of a city.

The panel of guests includes Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games Deputy Executive Director at the IOC, who will be delivering the keynote speech, Olympian Jonathan Edwards, Paralympian Ade Adepitan and Andrea Varnier, ceremonies and culture director of the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

The panel will discuss the influence of athletes and artists as role models and how the Paralympic Games have improved social attitudes towards disability.

The lecture is intended to be an annual event up to 2012 and is inspired by and named after Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement and the IOC. In 1904, de Coubertin spoke at the RSA about his vision of the Olympic Games as a catalyst for international friendship, understanding and co-operation through sport.

Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Sebastian Coe, “In five years London and the UK will be preparing to welcome the world to the London 2012 Games. The focus will be on the Olympic Park, the heart of the action in 2012.

But the Park will also be source of widespread social, economic and environmental regeneration – change that will benefit London and the UK for decades to come. This change has been happening for more than a century thanks to the modern Olympic Movement.”

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive RSA, said: “We welcome all of our guests to this important event. We will look at how the Games can survive in the modern era and address what the role of sport and culture is in modern society, how it can embrace all parts of the wider community and have a lasting and sustainable future. With five years to go until London 2012, this is a perfect time for such a discussion.”

Jan Paterson, Director, British Olympic Foundation, said: “We are very proud to support the inaugural de Coubertin lecture. It is an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate everything that Pierre de Coubertin did for the Olympic Movement and celebrate his special relationship with Britain’s early Olympic leaders.”

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For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100.