LDA to bring home benefits from Paralympic Games
17th September 2008
The London Development Agency is using London's unique position as the next Olympic and Paralympic host city to drive investment in the capital as a place to train, visit and do business.
This week, the LDA and partners VisitBritain and the ParalympicsGB will hold a series of events close to the Olympic site in Beijing to:
- Highlight London's business opportunities to investors as a
leading world city, including the development of the Olympic Park site post 2012 - Promote London as a training venue for 2012 Paralympic teams
- Promote London's tourism offer in terms of accessibility and the LDA's current 'London Open to All' programme to improve it further
- Mark the handover of the Paralympic Games from Beijing to London
The events will follow the success of London House which the LDA set up during the Beijing Games last month. The venue captured business interest in the emerging market by promoting the best of what London has to offer across tourism, higher education and the creative sectors to an industry targeted audience.
Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of the LDA, said:
"The Paralympic Games have provided us with a unique opportunity to promote London's diverse offer on a world stage. London is an ideal place for Paralympic teams to set up training camps and the capital's facilities will continue to improve as an accessible place for everyone to visit.
"The LDA's business activity in Beijing will build on the interest generated last month through London House. We want to encourage international businesses to bid for Olympic contracts through CompeteFor and get involved in the tremendous legacy opportunities to develop the Olympic Park post 2012."
Mike Brace, Chairman of ParalympicsGB, as follows:
"We're immensely proud of the achievements of the ParalympicsGB team at these Games and there is also a level of considerable excitement, amongst the athletes and support staff, at the prospect of a home-based Games in 2012. It's a significant boost to us that figures like the Mayor of London and Tessa Jowell MP have made the trip out here to promote London and the UK's cause as well as attracting attention to the Paralympic Movement."
Sandie Dawe, VisitBritain's director of strategy and communications,
said:
"The UK has a proud history of achievement and excellence in paralympic sport. As the birthplace of the paralympic movement, we have the ideal opportunity to rival other destinations by raising accessibility standards and so secure a reputation as the most welcoming destination in the world.
"Our presence in Beijing this summer for both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games has proved an unmissable learning opportunity and will enable us to ensure that tourism is among the beneficiaries of London 2012. It marks the first stage of our strategy to spread the economic benefits of the Paralympic Games throughout the UK and raise the profile and awareness of Britain as a destination."
The events include:
Tuesday 16th September - Welcome to London/Welcome to Britain Co hosted by the LDA and Visit Britain to promote London's 2012 offer including training camps and the accessibility improvements caused by the Games coming to London. Speakers including London Mayor Boris Johnson, Chairman of LOCOG Sebastian Coe.
Wednesday 17th September - London Open to All Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell MP and Think London will lead a business seminar to promote London's business offer to international investors. Will include London Calling - an LDA programme launched by London Mayor Boris Johnson last month to encourage investors to come forward with ideas to develop on the Olympic Park site after the 2012 Games. International businesses will also be encouraged to bid for 2012 contracts through the CompeteFor service.
Wednesday 17th September - Handover Event London Mayor Boris Johnson, the British Paralympic Association and Beijing athletes to mark the handover of the Games to London.
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