London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

Role of the London Development Agency

The 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is already providing long-term benefits to London's communities and economy.

The London Development Agency's (LDA's) aim is to ensure that Londoners benefit from the staging of the 2012 Games through jobs, business opportunities, increased tourism, investment and regeneration.

We are working with a range of partners to help the capital and its communities make the most of the 2012 Games opportunities, now and in the years to come.

Our partners include:

• Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
• London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) (also referred to as ‘London 2012’)
• Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC)
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Greater London Authority.

Employment opportunities

The LDA is working with the five host boroughs (the London Boroughs of Newham, Greenwich, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets) and partners such as the Learning and Skills Council and Jobcentre Plus on a number of initiatives to ensure that Londoners are equipped with the right skills at the right time to access the employment opportunities arising from the 2012 Games and their legacy.

These initiatives include:

• Personal Best volunteer programme
• Job Brokerage Network
• London Employer Accord
• LDA Opportunities Fund
• Train to Gain initiative
• Women into Construction project
• Local Employment and Training Framework

Encouraging business

Working with London 2012 - and on behalf of the English Regional Development Agencies and UK Devolved Administrations - the LDA launched 'CompeteFor' in January 2008.

This online service matches potential suppliers with 2012 Games-related business opportunities. The service also provides access to the LDA-funded Business Link in London support services to ensure that businesses are not just fit-to-supply for the Games, but are also in the best possible position to compete globally.

Improving Londoners' lifestyles

The LDA is also using the spirit of the 2012 Games to encourage Londoners to make lifelong changes in their approach to physical activity and participation in sport.

The Mayor's Sports Legacy Plan aims to significantly boost participation by Londoners of all ages in grassroots sports and ensure there is a real lasting sporting legacy from the 2012 Games.

With a £15.5 million investment from 2009 to 2012, the Mayor's Sports Legacy Plan will engage with, and build on, projects and partnerships that are already ongoing in London such as Play Sport London (formerly the  London Summer and Winter of Sport programmes).

The Plan will also provide new, long-term, sustainable solutions to the problems of inactivity that are leading to obesity and health inequalities in the city.

Destination London

The LDA is working with Visit London to put in place strategic initiatives to maximize the tourism revenue and marketing benefits for the city resulting from the hosting of the 2012 Games.

The post-Games Park

A commitment of a lasting legacy of social, physical and economic regeneration was at the heart of London's bid for the Games, and has underpinned the design of the Olympic Park and the Olympic venues.

The LDA played an integral part in the successful Olympic bid, and in July 2007 completed the successful acquisition of the land needed for the construction of the Olympic Park.

We have also led the legacy planning for the post-Games Park and the surrounding areas - work that will transform one of London's most deprived areas through major residential, commercial, infrastructure, community and park development.

In October 2009, responsibility for the masterplanning work for the Olympic Park and Lower Lea Valley was passed to the OPLC. The OPLC was created to provide a focal point for securing the right expertise, accountability and leadership for the Olympic Park legacy.