It is great to see the return of the Olympics with Rio 2016 and it brings back many good memories of the London 2012 Olympics. It was a huge achievement for us to host the Olympics and it will never be forgotten. London 2012 was a special time and showed Britain at its best. Our own team did incredibly well and created some good role models for young and old alike.
Four years on is a good time to look at the initial legacy of London 2012 although it will be many years down the line before the whole picture can be accurately viewed. I certainly think there has been an economic benefit including the regeneration of East London and Britain’s image in the world was strengthened. Inward investment and tourism has been strong and the Olympics will have helped with that.
A sporting legacy is one that most people look for and the success of Team GB at Rio 2016 will be one measure of that. The one that is widely looked at is public participation in sport. Here there are mixed findings although they are still broadly positive, with athletics in particular seeing a big increase. Figures from Sport England show that in the year up to March 2015, more than 2.2m people regularly took part in athletics each week which was up by 328,000 on 2011.
The 2012 Paralympics were the largest and most successful ever Paralympics and especially here in the UK, had major coverage and widespread appeal. I think these games had a positive impact, both in how people with disabilities are viewed and recognition that a disability or indeed any adversity cannot stop you from achieving your best when you are dedicated.
I am hopeful that Brazil, which itself has a strong Paralympic tradition, will put on a great Paralympic Games. Inspiring people is something that the Olympics and Paralympics are uniquely placed to do and I believe that a lasting legacy of London 2012 is a strengthening and broadening of the interest in the Olympics and Paralympics and that can only be beneficial.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
10th August 2016