LondonBangla: The Mayor of Tower Hamlets and LOCOG have negotiated an agreement for support that details four keys areas where LOCOG and Tower Hamlets will work together to increase the benefits to the borough, including employment, business, education and culture. London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe and Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman made the announcement at St Paul’s Way Trust School in Bow. As well as outlining the new proposals to the borough’s young people, they signed a letter of agreement which aims to maximise the benefits to Tower Hamlets from the staging of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Plans around maximising employment opportunities for Tower Hamlets residents will be implemented immediately with the secondment of a full time council employee to the LOCOG HR Team. They will work together to identify up to 1,000 vacancies that Tower Hamlets’ residents will be given access to 72 hours before they enter the wider employment market. There will also be joint working to ensure that the many opportunities for children and young people in Tower Hamlets schools, from being involved in test events and ceremonies rehearsals, to accessing tickets for the Games through the Ticketshare scheme by all schools in the borough being part of the London 2012 education programme ‘Get Set’.
LOCOG has also confirmed plans to work with Tower Hamlets to develop a special event to mark the London arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay. Brick Lane and Banglatown will be promoted as cultural and entertainment hub for media, spectators and other visitors to the Games, helping to boost business and the reputation of the area. London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe said: ‘I’m proud to be working with this Host Borough to these four key areas so the Borough can benefit from the staging of the greatest show on earth right on their doorstep. We are committed to helping residents and businesses maximise the benefits from these commercial, employment, educational and cultural opportunities.
‘Signing this agreement at St. Paul’s Way Trust School in Tower Hamlets I see tremendous excitement amongst the young people for the Games. They are engaging daily with the project through the London 2012 resources the school is using across the curriculum from our Get Set programme. It is our vision to use the enthusiasm we see in these young people to make lasting change.’ Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “We’re 100 per cent behind London 2012, and want to make sure that our residents gain the maximum benefit from the Games. They will have to put up with a lot of the disruption that comes with hosting the biggest sporting event of earth, so it’s only fair that they get to share in the experience and reap the rewards.’ ‘
We’ve been working with LOCOG to develop the opportunities for residents and businesses within the borough, and will continue to do so to ensure that Tower Hamlets and east London gains lasting benefits from the Games.’ In November 2010, Tower Hamlets Council sought a Judicial Review against LOCOG to return the marathon back to east London.
Following this agreement the council has decided to drop the proceedings. To find out more about London 2012 opportunities in Tower Hamlets, visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/olympics.