The economic impact of the Olympics 2012 on London

Reference sources

The potential economic impact of hosting the Olympics is very newsworthy, and receives a lot of attention in the press and other media at a local, national and international level. The current economic downturn has placed the issue in even greater focus, as pressure on government spending, and jobs, intensifies. But perhaps it’s all too easy to get carried away by the tide of headlines and soundbites and lose sight of the underlying evidence.

The article looks at what is meant by economic impact, how much London 2012 is costing, and draws together a range of sources you can explore which give different views about the likely economic impact on London and the UK more widely. It is intended as an introduction to some of the issues which will stimulate you to explore further. It has been written by Sally Halper, Lead Content Specialist for Business & Management at the British Library, in March 2009.

For the full article please see 'Research articles' (right)

Fool's Gold

What will the legacy of London 2012 look like for East London in the years to come? This report by New Economics Foundation urges that opportunities stemming from the Games should be opened up to local SMEs and the voluntary sector, with the eventual aim of transferring the assets that are left behind after the event to community ownership. This will help ensure that the economic benefits of London 2012 reach those most in need.

For the full article please see 'Research articles' (right)

Access to training & employment

This research paper by Tank Consulting for the Equality and Human Rights Commission looks at the opportunities offered for employment and training in the five Olympic boroughs. It assesses how these will impact on the aspirations and future careers of unemployed people in these areas, particularly those in the Asian community. The report suggests that Asian people appear to be disproportionately disadvantaged when it comes to gaining Olympics-related employment, and offers ways in which this situation might be remedied.

For the full article please see 'Research articles' (right)