Assembly Members have unanimously praised the efforts of all involved in organising and operating the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for delivering an outstanding success.
Volunteers, athletes and spectators are praised in a motion passed at today’s Assembly meeting. The motion goes on to urge the mayor to capitalise on the success to ensure that the Games have a lasting legacy in sport, volunteering and revitalising East London.
Murad Qureshi AM, who proposed the amended motion, said:
“There are so many people who helped make London 2012 an outstanding success that naming them all risks sounding like the worst kind of Oscar acceptance speech. From the formation of the bid to the last hurrah of Monday’s victory parade, tens of thousands of unsung heroes have put in millions of hours of work to deliver the platform for the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games ever. We owe them as well as our amazing athletes both a debt of gratitude and a pledge that we will ensure the promised legacies of the Games are delivered.”
Jenny Jones AM, who proposed a successful amendment to the motion, said:
“I was sceptical about bringing the five ringed circus to London but I am delighted to admit how much I enjoyed our great city hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, they were tremendous fun and at times spiritually uplifting. Our job now as Assembly members is to ensure that London has concrete benefits from the games that last even longer than the memories of one fantastic summer.”
The full text of the motion agreed at today’s meeting reads as follows:
“The Assembly notes the success of the Olympic & Paralympic Games.
The Assembly wishes to congratulate the Olympic Board, including the Mayor and his Olympics Team, LOCOG and the ODA, for producing such an amazing Olympic & Paralympic Games. The Assembly also wishes to give special mention to the previous Mayor and Government for their work on the bid and the preparatory work for these Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Assembly wishes to pay tribute to the athletes, who have excited us with their sporting endeavours; to the armed forces, police & support staff who have kept London safe; to transport staff who kept London moving; to everyone working on the Games who made it such a memorable experience. And crucially, to all the volunteers who freely gave their time to make the Games a resounding success - this Assembly endorses the Mayor’s suggestion of honouring the volunteers and calls on the Mayor to ensure this happens.
The Assembly wishes to congratulate everyone who attended the Games, as well as every Londoner, for their spirit and enthusiasm. The general feeling of goodwill and happiness in London has been noticeable and welcomed.
The Assembly further notes the success and contribution of the Cultural Olympiad. This significant and truly amazing contribution, if built upon, can only continue to secure London as a vibrant, world class city and help inspire future generations to get involved in the arts.
The Assembly resolves to explore ways of expressing their thanks and gratitude to all GB Olympic Medal Winners and Coaches and to mark the wonderful London Olympics and Paralympics 2012.
The Assembly calls on the Mayor to report to us on the 'lessons learnt' for London from the Games and the next steps for our City following from the Games, to ensure a lasting legacy. This should include the steps he will be taking to encourage Government to continue to fund the sporting legacy of the games and the actions he will be taking to maximise the sporting legacy for Londoners, to develop of the work of volunteering in our City, to ensuring a lasting legacy for East London that the whole of the country can be proud of and to capitalise on the massive goodwill and reputational strengths of London as demonstrated by the Games.
The Assembly resolves to continue its scrutiny of these various areas of work in the coming months and years.”
Notes for editors:
- The motion was agreed unanimously at a meeting of the full Assembly today. Watch the webcast.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.