Hackney: A Host for 2012

Introduction by Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be great for Britain. As Mayor of this host borough, it is my job to make sure they’re great for Hackney too.

I am committed to Hackney’s role in helping to deliver the best Games ever. But our top priority is making sure we secure the best possible long-term benefits for Hackney residents.

Here in Hackney, we are at the heart of the 2012 Games, with almost one third of the Games area happening in our borough. This is bringing the most significant regeneration project ever seen in London.

Hackney Council is working to provide significant lasting benefits including: better public transport; jobs for local people; work for local businesses; new and improved sports facilities; a better environment; more participation in sport, culture and the arts; and promotion of our borough as a destination for work, living and investment.

We’ve campaigned for four years to get better public transport into Hackney, and the Games have given us the opportunity to make this happen.

The borough will be properly linked to the tube network for the first time via the extension of the East London Line, and major investment in the North London Line will bring improved trains and services.

The media and broadcast centre for journalists reporting on the 2012 Games will be located in the Olympic Park within Hackney Wick. After the Games are over, our aim is to make sure this is transformed into a new employment hub for East London.

Hackney Council is working to create a thriving new neighbourhood at Hackney Wick, including affordable new homes, places to eat, shops, and business space, alongside indoor sports facilities and green spaces and parks. The 2012 Games give us a golden opportunity to make Hackney a better place.

We will work with partners and organisations to get the best out of the Games for the people who live in our borough.

And by the five host boroughs for 2012 working together, we can make sure the Games bring a lasting legacy for all of East London.

How we will go about doing this is set out here in Hackney: A host for 2012.

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney

Our priorities for Hackney:

• Better public transport
• Skills, training and jobs for local people
• Work for local business and enterprise
• Improved facilities for sport and leisure
• A better environment
• A healthy, active borough with more people involved in sport and physical activity
• A boost for culture and the arts - making the most of our role as the lead host borough for culture
• Promoting our borough as a great place for living, working, visiting and investing

What our supporters say

Patrick Wintour, political editor, The Guardian, Hackney resident

“My children go to Hackney schools and are already counting down the days to the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They cannot believe something so exciting will be happening within a mile or two of our home.”

Loong Ly, student, Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England Secondary School

“It’s exciting that the Games will be happening so close to where I live. But the most important thing is that once they’re over, we will be able to use all the new sports centres and parks.”

Karen Abad, student, Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England Secondary School

“Hackney is a really multicultural place. The athletes will feel at home because nearly every ethnicity is here in Hackney.”

George Alagiah, presenter, BBC News, Hackney resident

"There is no shortage of sporting talent in Hackney - with the 2012 Games the young people of this and neighbouring boroughs should get the facilities they so richly deserve."

The London Olympic Games will run from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

The London Paralympic Games will run from 29 August to 9 September 2012.

Feedback

We welcome your feedback on Hackney: A host for 2012. Please send your comments to the 2012 Unit at Olympics@hackney.gov.uk

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Page updated: 17 Jan 2008