One small footprint for global athletes, one huge legacy for Newham!

In November 2008 the fantastic Susie Hay, footprints programme coordinator and all round amazing lady(!), arranged for me and my fellow graduates (nucleargraduates pioneers – Cohort 1) to visit a little site that will soon be invaded by thousands of people from across the globe for an event in Summer 2012; you may know it as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

16 months later, Susie took the third cohort of nucleargraduates to same Olympic site in Stratford as part of their footprints workshop based around power, sustainable communities and communication. I was lucky enough to be able to tag along!

During my first visit (November 17, 2008) this is what the site looked like:

Both tours were given by Jean Jeffrey from the Partnerships and Communications section of Newham Council, who talked us through some of the benefits Newham will gain from hosting the Olympics long after they have come and gone.

Being part of the nuclear industry, whenever we hear the word “legacy” it refers to all the bad things that were left behind from the start i.e. dealing with radioactive waste and managing the bad press that the production of atomic weapons gave us, but it is really inspiring to compare that against the good that will come out of the Olympic legacy.

Now, ahead of schedule, here is what the site looks like (February 8, 2010):
 

With construction of the main stadium well underway upon completion it will hold 80,000 spectators. After the games it will be stripped back leaving a 25,000-seat venue that could provide a location for a number of sports, including athletics, football and rugby. The 11 buildings that will make up the Olympic Village will be turned into apartment blocks with 50% reserved for local buyers; Westfield are constructing new retail outlets that will be home to a new shopping centre; and flagship stores such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer will be relocating there.

In addition to the construction of lasting facilities like the stadium, a velodrome and an aquatics centre the biggest benefit to the community will be that of new parklands planned over 100 hectares to attract visitors, as well as adding green space, meeting family housing, community health, education and business needs.

To find out more about how the Olympics will benefit Newham visit www.newham.gov.uk.

I, for one, can’t wait to see the next stage of development and will certainly be saving my pennies for tickets to the games! Fingers crossed they remain ahead of schedule!