Suppliers to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be able to champion their involvement in last summer's sporting spectacular, after a landmark deal has been reached by the Government, British Olympic Association (BOA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC). The deal will give companies the recognition that they deserve for the part they played in the success of the London Games.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller and BOA Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe announced that the companies which helped build the Park, venues and provided goods and services for the Games will be able to actively promote their work on the London 2012 Games. The move is designed to provide a significant boost to the country's economy by helping firms land contracts and deals on the back of their involvement with the London 2012 Games.
The new deal will benefit tens of thousands of British companies which were involved in the staging, construction and infrastructure of London 2012. Amongst others, these will include firms who built or designed the stadiums and venues, those responsible for clearing and preparing the Olympic Park and maintaining it in top condition during Games-time, as well as those with a role at venues outside London.
The Government has committed £2m to the British Olympic Association to allow them to establish and operate the new 'supplier recognition scheme'. Companies will be able to apply to the BOA for a free licence from 27 January. On receipt of the free licence they will be able to promote their work at trade shows both in the UK and internationally, apply for industry awards for their London 2012 work and use their involvement in direct pitches and tender documentation when competing for international contracts. Additionally, the licence will give businesses exclusive access to the Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) library of more than 4,000 photographs from the project, enabling them to market their involvement with some of the London Games' 'stardust'.
This agreement marks the first time that, following an Olympic and Paralympic Games, companies that supplied goods and services will have the opportunity to promote their involvement to help develop new business.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller said, "I am delighted that those companies that played such a crucial role in making London 2012 an incredible success can now be rightly recognised. By lifting these restrictions we will be able to maximise the economic benefits from the Games. Now we have removed the barrier, companies can capitalise on the role they played at home and abroad by really selling their involvement in one of the biggest and most successful projects this country has ever put on."
British Olympic Association and LOCOG Chair Lord Coe said, "The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games provided Great Britain with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the very best of our what our country has to offer - from our athletes and volunteers, to our history and culture, and of course, the expertise and innovation of British businesses.
"Thousands of British businesses supplied goods and services that were essential to the successful staging of the Games, and I am delighted that many of these companies will now have the opportunity to highlight and officially promote their involvement in the Games. This should be a catalyst in creating new business opportunities and further growth for these companies, and that is an important economic legacy of the Games.
"It is also important to recognise and thank the International Olympic Committee and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their support of this first-of-its-kind programme."
The relaxation of the rules affecting promotional activity by UK companies was a key recommendation of last summer's report by Sir John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, on how this country could maximise business benefits from the Games.
Sir John welcomed yesterday's announcement: "Businesses in Britain can now really build on the huge amount they have already achieved. UK firms won 98 per cent of more than £6 billion worth of contracts to construct venues and infrastructure for the Games, helping their finances in a difficult economic climate, keeping workers in jobs, boosting skills and equipping firms to win lucrative contracts in the future, at home and abroad. This ground-breaking new scheme will let them make the most of London 2012 and their involvement."
The supplier recognition scheme licence will cover businesses that had contracts directly with LOCOG or the ODA. It will also cover businesses which had contracts with LOCOG or ODA contractors and subcontractors, or firms that can demonstrate that they provided goods and services that were required for the delivery of the Games.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is working to secure an £11bn economic boost to Britain from the Games, including major trade missions to the hosts of events like the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics - both in Brazil - and the following World Cup in Qatar in 2018. Businesses involved in the staging of the London Games have the potential to win significant contracts from future host nations.
