Wider business opportunities
As was seen at previous Games such as Barcelona 1996, Sydney 2000 and Vancouver 2010, the ‘halo effect’ created by hosting the 2012 Games will generate a plethora of broader commercial opportunities.
Businesses are encouraged to look beyond direct opportunities with the Organising Committee to explore the economic benefits resulting from:
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increased visitor numbers and spending before, during and after the Games
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increased investment in the capital as a result of the city’s enhanced global profile
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the redevelopment of the Olympic Park and surrounding areas
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enhanced skills levels, aspirations and capabilities of individuals and communities
There are several areas where the business community can genuinely benefit from unprecedented commercial opportunities.
Tourism
It is estimated that during the two weeks of the Games, around 300,000 foreign visitors will stay each night. These visitors will stay in hotels and other accommodation and spend money in shops and restaurants. There is also an enormous opportunity to attract visitors after the Games. Prior to the 1992 Games, Barcelona was ranked the 16th most popular city tourist destination in Europe. By 1999, it had risen to third.
Training camps
The National Olympic and Paralympic Committees (NOCs and NPCs) are responsible for selection, preparation and management of their respective teams. In preparation for 2012, committees from around the world will enter into agreements with venues and facilities across the UK to host Pre-Games training camps. Some of these NOCs and NPCs will also hire specific venues in London to use as Games-time training venues, providing services for committee members, athletes, coaches, trainers and physical therapists.
NOCs and NPCs will potentially require many different support services such as hotel accommodation, taxi services, couriers, mobile telephones and specialist caterers. Businesses should consider getting in touch with these organisations directly as part of their business development activities.
National Houses
National Houses are the public face of a country at the 2012 Olympic Games and will exist across London during the Games. They aim to promote their country as a tourist and business location and include activities such as exhibitions, conferences, a VIP and athletes' lounge, cultural events, performances and medal ceremonies.
National Houses announced so far
| Country | Location |
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| Africa | Kensington Gardens |
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| Belgium | Inner Temple |
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| Brazil | Somerset House |
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| Croatia | The Pelham |
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| Czech Republic | Business Design Centre |
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| France | Old Billingsgate |
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| Georgia | 45 Millbank |
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| Germany | Museum of London Docklands & MS Deutschland |
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| Italy | Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre |
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| Jamaica | Finsbury Park |
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| Japan | 4 Hamilton Place |
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| Netherlands | Alexandra Palace |
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| Nigeria | Theatre Royal Stratford East |
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| Romania | 30 Pavilion Road |
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| Russia | Perks Field |
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| Serbia | Serbian Embassy |
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| Slovakia | Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall |
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| South Korea | Royal Thames Yacht Club |
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| Switzerland | Glazier’s Hall |
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| USA | Royal College of Art |
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Current as of 30 January 2011.
Cultural Olympiad & public events
The Cultural Olympiad started in September 2008 and is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games, designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012. Organisations can apply to have their events become part of the Cultural Olympiad or may be interested in working with one of the pre-existing Major Projects.
The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012 and travel across the UK for 70 days carried by 8,000 torchbearers. At the end of each day the event will conclude with a free, outdoor celebration event in a major town or city. These will be organised by Local Authorities in each area.
International investment & partnering
The 2012 Games is a unique opportunity to position London as the best city in which to invest and conduct business. Just one year on from the 2010 Winter Games, Vancouver reported over $300 million (£189 million) in post-Games business benefits, including $168.8 million (£106 million) in direct investment and over 2,500 jobs created. The 2012 Games will also act as a platform for UK businesses to target other Games (e.g. Sochi 2014, Rio 2016) and other major sporting events harnessing the unique experience gained in 2012.
For more information, see International business opportunities in the 2012 information section.
Property development & physical legacy
London 2012 will not only provide opportunities for individual developers in and around the Olympic Park, it will also kick-start regeneration in the Thames Gateway region. The physical transformation of East London is vital to accommodate London’s forecast economic and demographic growth, providing state of the art infrastructure located in close proximity to important development nodes such as Stratford City and Canary Wharf.
These projects will continue after the Games, as work begins to transition the Olympic Park into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This will include the removal of temporary venues and walkways and the conversion of permanent venues into ‘legacy mode’. There are also plans for the creation of over 10,000 new homes on the park. Construction on a £1.3 billion business district around Stratford International Station is expected to start in 2013 as well.
Employment & training
30,000 jobs will be created to stage the 2012 Games and a further 70,000 volunteer positions. This is an opportunity for the capital’s unemployed, including those from deprived communities in east London, to develop skills and gain the necessary training to enter the workforce.
Additional information:
