MP’s Olympic bid plea

CO-OP MP Andy Love has called on the Government and London Mayor Ken Livingstone to &#039mutualise&#039 the Olympic Games by offering membership of its governing organisation to all...

CO-OP MP Andy Love has called on the Government and London Mayor Ken Livingstone to &#039mutualise&#039 the Olympic Games by offering membership of its governing organisation to all Londoners.

Mr Love, Labour/Co-op MP for Edmonton, is proposing that London&#039s bid to host the games in 2012 should be controlled by a community business that will give a voice to ordinary people in addition to the Government, the Greater London Authority and the British Olympic Association.

This would ensure, says Mr Love, that the bid reflects the long-term needs of the capital and builds maximum support from the population, creating a &#039People&#039s Games&#039.

"The concept of the People&#039s Games is about harnessing the excitement and potential of Londoners in making a bid they feel is theirs and about ensuring that each step of the bid process takes with it the support of the citizens of the capital," said Mr Love.

The Government wants all London council tax payers to contribute to the Olympic bid through their payments.

Under Mr Love&#039s plans, all individuals resident in London would therefore be offered the opportunity to join the People&#039s Games through communications from Borough Councils (for example through council tax notices) and the Greater London Authority.

Two seats on the bid company&#039s Board would be reserved for Londoners, with a third seat open to all UK citizens.

Membership would give citizens a collective voice in decisions such as: How the games should be promoted to the wider public;How infrastructure and facilities should be used during and after the games;The election of citizen directors.

The MP has written to the Secretary of State, Tessa Jowell and Ken Livingstone to engage their interest in the proposal.

Co-operative Party National Secretary Peter Hunt commented: "The main stakeholders in the Olympic Games should be the people of London but under the current proposals they are bystanders to the whole process.

"The People&#039s Games would provide a genuine forum for informing and consulting with citizens, with membership providing a platform for fundraising, recruiting and involving community groups."

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