Setting the Bar: Preparing for London's Olympic legacy

A year after winning the bid, London is gearing up to deliver the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Games plan promises to regenerate the East London site and its surroundings. This paper assesses the likely economic impact of the Games on East London, Greater London and the UK.

We need to be realistic about what the Games can deliver. Not all local residents will be able to access the employment opportunities created by the Games. And areas outside of London will not all gain as much as they anticipate. To avoid disappointment later, we should all adjust our expectations now.

A substantial, lasting London 2012 legacy is within reach. But London needs to make sure that the potential gains are realised. The benefits will not just happen automatically. Success depends on whether we have put in place the appropriate mechanisms and partnerships to deliver a legacy of wider economic benefits.

Centre for Cities has re-launched as an independent think tank. You can visit them online at http://www.centreforcities.org.