London unveils new Olympic Institute

The London Olympic Institute would be based in the state-of-the-art facilities at the centre of the new Olympic Park on a 500-acre site in Stratford.

The organisation would include a new institute of sport, a dedicated sports medicine facility and a centre for the study of the Olympic Movement and Olympic ideals.

The recently published report of the IOC's Evaluation Commission highlighted the 'significant sports and environmental legacies' of London's plans for the 2012 Games in its summary of the city's 'very high quality' bid.

And London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe said that the Olympic Institute was an integral part of the bid team's pledge that 2012 Games would deliver a lasting legacy to the city.

"The London Olympic Institute in an exciting, dynamic and innovative concept for a new facility dedicated to De Coubertin's vision of building a better world through sport and the Olympic Movement," said the double Olympic champion.

Jude Kelly, Chair of London's Culture and Education Advisory Committee, highlighted the role the Institute would play in the regeneration of east London.

"The Institute will look at how the pillars of the Olympic Movement can be integrated to help build stronger communities and cities linked to sport, culture and the environment," she said.

After the Games the local community would benefit from a number of new sports facilities, including an Athletics stadium, Velopark, Aquatics Centre, Hockey facility and indoor sports hall.

"These facilities will enable London to create a world-class Olympic dedicated institute for sport, culture and the environment that will provide facilities and services for elite athletes as well as encouraging community participation across sport and culture," she added.

Culture, Media and Sport Minister Tessa Jowell welcomed the announcement.

"The London Olympic Institute will not only inspire and involve the UK's cultural, creative and sporting communities, but will drive new partnerships between sectors, ensuring that the economic, social, culture, health and environmental legacy of a London Games is not lost," she said.

And Steve Cram, a 1984 Olympic silver medallist and Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, said the Institute would benefit the next generation of elite athletes in this country.

"This is excellent news," he said. "It would enable us to offer world-class support to elite athletes and National Governing Body performance programmes across the region from one major hub site."

The London Olympic Institute would be an independent not-for-profit organisation based in the main Olympic Stadium, which would be reconfigured as a 25,000-seat Athletics venue after the Games.