Downing Street Says

Asked if there would any guidance from the Prime Minister regarding the Olympics Bill statement, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister had set out his view in his visit this morning to the Westway. What was important was that this would give us a chance to regenerate one of the most deprived areas of the UK. It would also showcase Britain to a global audience, and it would give sport a massive boost. The PMOS said that it was not just about the festival of sport during the period of the Olympics; rather, it was also about a legacy that would last for decades. If people looked at the costs, they must remember that it would fund the biggest regeneration programme since the Second World War. It would be the biggest catalyst for regeneration for the Thames Gateway, and the 250 hectares of brownfield land would be transformed into the largest new urban park in Europe for 150 years.

The PMOS said that the 3850 homes created from the Athletes Village would be part of the 9000 new homes in the Olympic Park after the games. There would be a significant upgrade in public transport in East London, and there would be up to 12,000 jobs as a result of the legacy developed from the Olympic Park. That should give people a good idea of the approach we were taking, and that was part of the bid process that stressed the legacy in terms of sport, but also in terms of the country as a whole.

Put that the Prime Minister had said today that the regeneration would benefit the whole of the UK, but how would it benefit those not living in London, the PMOS replied that if one part of the UK was improved, it did effect the country as a whole. Also, in terms of where events would take place, that would effect the country, as well as what it would do for sport. In terms of the investment that was going into helping athletics both for Beijing and for 2012, that would also benefit the UK as a whole. People had to look at the popularity of the Olympics throughout the UK to see that the country recognised that.

Asked if the Prime Minister had a specific reaction to the fact that the bill appeared to be rising, the PMOS said that he did not want to pre-empt Tessa Jowell later this afternoon.

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» Thursday, March 15, 2007

Olympics

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