London 2012 Games

Putting British business on the podium

Ensuring that London, and the whole of the country, enjoyed the estimated multi-billion pound business benefits of hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is one of the main objectives of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

UKTI used the 2012 Games as a unique opportunity to showcase Great Britain throughout the world and to build a legacy of globally competitive and innovative businesses.

UK companies can use the Games and the contracts secured from them as a platform for winning national and international projects for years, and indeed generations, to come.

Winning initiatives

This summer, the British Business Embassy formed the centrepiece of our Olympic legacy strategy. It ran a programme including the Global Investment Conference and a series of Global Business Summits. International trade and inward investment deals worth £11 billion are expected to be generated as a result of London 2012 and the events held at the British Business Embassy during the Olympics and Paralympics

The British Business Club is an online, one-stop-shop that brings you up to date details of networking events, business activity, news and potential partners around international sports events, boosting the opportunities for UK companies to make valuable international business connections during and between major sporting events like London 2012.

Wider activity

UKTI’s Host2Host programme maximises the economic benefits of hosting the 2012 Games, by creating links and sharing best practice with previous and future host cities of Olympic and Paralympic Games and other major sporting events.

During the London 2012 Games UKTI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop deeper relations between the UK and Taipei City as it prepares to deliver the 2017 Universiade. The MOU will help UK companies to capitalise on business opportunities associated with future global sporting events including the 2017 Universiade, for which contracts are expected to total £750 million.

The 2012 Games: Opportunity for Business

A UKTI film about the business legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The film features interviews with Lord Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games; Stephen Pegge, Head of External Affairs for Lloyds Commercial; and Gilles Albaredes, Managing Director of Crystal CG International.

The 2012 Games: Opportunity for Business

Key Delivery Authorities

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is responsible for developing and building the new venues and infrastructure for the Games and their use after 2012. By the summer 2011, the ODA had awarded nearly 1,500 contracts worth over £6 billion to businesses throughout the UK and internationally, and all major venues had been completed on time and within budget. Additionally the UK Government has invested another £6.5 billion on transportation improvements such as Tube upgrades and improved rail links, ahead of the 2012 Games.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) was responsible for preparing and staging the 2012 Games. Its £2 billion budget will be used to procure artists and performances for the ceremonies, security, catering and soft facilities management, sports equipment, technology resources, transportation and hard facilities management, including the fit out of venues.

The London Legacy Development Corporation is overseeing the long-term planning, development, management and maintenance of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its facilities after the London 2012 Games. They are already planning the removal of temporary venues and walkways and the conversion of permanent venues into ‘legacy mode’, and they have also started inviting bids to run the permanent venues remaining on the Park.