The inspirational power of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is delivering lasting change in sport, communities, the economy, East London and awareness and perceptions around disability.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
With companies across the country we are harnessing the Olympic momentum and delivering the lasting business legacy of the Games that will help make Britain a winner in the global race.
But that’s not where the good news ends. The Games are also delivering a strong social legacy. Last summer, Games Makers changed the way Britain views volunteering. Since then, thousands of people have been inspired to get involved with their local sports clubs. Tonight in the park, Join In will launch a summer of events, which will unleash an army of 500,000 people up and down the country to turn up, take part and Join In.
Economic legacy
The UK economy has seen a £9.9 billion trade and investment boost from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, one year into a four-year programme of activity and events.
This boost comes from businesses securing contract wins, additional sales and new foreign investment in the last year. An independent report projects the total benefit to the UK from hosting London 2012 could reach up to £41 billion by 2020.
Read more about the economic boost from London 2012.
Volunteering legacy
The UK has also seen an increase in volunteering since the Games, halting the steady decline seen since 2005.
Today an event on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will kick start a summer of ‘Join In’ activity to encourage people to volunteer locally.
Sporting and cultural legacy
1.4 million more people are playing sport at least once a week than in 2005 when the Olympic bid was won. Meanwhile, £1 billion investment is going into youth and community sport over 5 years to encourage greater participation and improve facilities.
The legacy of all the permanent venues on the Olympic Park was secured within a year of the Games – the park has started to reopen this summer with major sports, music and cultural events set to take place.
London 2012 also brought forward investment in East London by a generation and 70,000 unemployed Londoners were helped into Games-related employment, creating a labour market legacy.
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
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