London Latest -- Report Highlights Legacy Concerns; 'Big Build' Gathers Pace

Report Highlights Legacy Concerns

The Olympic Park Legacy Company is under pressure to demonstrate how it will maximize the economic benefits of the 2012 Games following fresh concerns raised in a new report from the London Assembly.

The Assembly Budget and Performance Committee claimed Tuesday that there was still a great deal of uncertainty around the future set-up for Olympic legacy development in London.

The Finances of the Olympic Legacy report casts doubt on who will be accountable for maximizing the overall economic benefit of the Olympics and ensuring value for money from the investment once the London Development Agency (LDA) is abolished.

Last week, OPLC chair Margaret Ford admitted that plans for the post-Games use of the 500-acre Olympic Park, including the provision of up to 11,000 new homes, faced "fiscal challenges".

The report reveals that the land transfer – finalized on Sept. 29 - would leave the LDA with $611 million of debt. It questions how the abolition of the LDA in March 2012 will affect the repayment of the debt and the amount of future funding available for London’s economic development.

The committee welcomed the setting up of the OPLC, but warned that Mayor Boris Johnson's proposal to replace it with a Mayoral Development Corporation should not lead to further drawn-out talks over debt and ownership of land.

Chair of the committee John Biggs said "The OPLC has responsibility for the Olympic Park’s physical legacy, but there needs to be a clear line of accountability for legacy beyond that, such as an investment in skills and employment, as well as legacy outside the park.

"A huge amount of money has gone into creating the Olympic Park and this investment must result in an economic benefit for east London and the capital as a whole.

"Everyone thinks responsibility for the legacy is cut and dried, but our investigation suggests there are still many unanswered questions which need to be addressed if London is to get the kind of legacy that was promised."

The committee is seeking a response to its concerns from Johnson by next February. The report is the first of a two-part investigation. In the second part, scheduled for early 2011, the committee will examine the adequacy of the transformation budgets, as well as overall legacy costs and funding.

'Big Build' Gathers Pace

A total of 10,333 workers are busy on the site of the Olympic Park and athletes’ village as the "big build" approaches its peak.

The Olympic Delivery Authority said 6,243 people are currently working on the Olympic Park, with 4,090 workers constructing the adjacent Olympic Village.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: "The Olympic Park and Village ‘big build’ are on trackthanks to the hard work of everyone on the site.

"We are not complacent and remain focused on the finish line."

Olympic Angle Emerges To July 7 Bombings

New evidence suggests the July 7 bombings may have been meant for July 6 – the day London won the 2012 Olympics.

A text message between two of the bombers emerged Monday as an inquest into the 2005 terrorist attacks got underway in the British capital.

"Having major problem," ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan wrote Shehzad Tanweer a day before killing 52 and wounding 700 more.

"Cannot make time. Will ring you when I get it sorted. Wait at home."

British newspaper Metro reported Monday that the message was in reference toKhan’s pregnant wife, who went to the hospital July 5 and miscarried two days later.

The text’s timing suggests a meeting planned for July 6, the same day the IOC chose London to host the 2012 Summer Games during its 117th session in Singapore.

Team Great Britain Engages NGBs

A trio of appointments to the British Olympic Association will strengthen Team Great Britain’s ties to national governing bodies in the build-up to London 2012.

Former British Paralympics COO Tanya Crook will lead the newly formed sport engagement team as head of summer sport engagement, BOA announced Monday.

"The competitive environment in international sport is more challenging now than ever," BOA sport director Clive Woodward said in a statement, "so it is important we continue to raise our game to meet the needs of athletes and national governing bodies."

Olympic pentathlete Georgina Harland and Olympic field hockey player Bernie Cotton will serve as sport engagement managers for the team, which could reach five members by year’s end.

Olympic Brief for Jowell

Tessa Jowell, the former Olympics minister who was instrumental in London's successful Olympic bid, has been named as shadow Olympics minister in Ed Miliband's opposition Labour party.

The shadow cabinet met for the first time Tuesday. Jowell's brief in the coming weeks will include a critical assessment of the Conservative-led coalition government's comprehensive spending review, which is expected to include further Olympic budget cuts.

Written by Mark Bisson and Matthew Grayson.