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The 2012 Olympic Games may prove to be a triumph, but will there be any legacy for the deprived communities surrounding the site, once the games are over? Joe Duckworth, who was chief executive of one of the Olympic boroughs until last summer, is sceptical. The 2012 Olympic Games will be fantastic. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will build the park to budget – and on time. The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) will run the games to great accolades from athletes and spectators. London will be London – exciting, quirky and fun. It will be the biggest games in history, with more visitors than ever before. It will be a great marketing opportunity for the UK and London plc, and our huge tally of medals will cheer us up as we courageously realign the public and private sectors, with all that entails. But will there be a lasting legacy for the local communities hosting the games? This might sound like an ungrateful question when east London has had so much investment. However, research about other games has shown that while countries and cities have benefitted, it's rare for the place where the Olympic Park is located to prosper. For example, Auburn District in Sidney had to cut budgets to pay for broken roads and pavements caused by the roots of trees planted for the games. So, why is it so difficult to get legacy for local communities, and how can we make sure we do? Why will the ODA and LOCOG be so successful, and yet there are signs that citizens, local businesses and communities do not feel part of the Olympic ‘family'? I think it starts with the mission. The ODA members know what they have to do and by when, have a properly-set budget, and clear accountability for success or failure. There is a focused machine which has excelled at its main task. The LOCOG concentrates entirely on delivering the biggest world event, where everything has to be right first time. Legacy is important to both organisations, but they are bound to centre on meeting their core, highly-visible and risky short-term objectives. There is no equivalent for legacy. Government at all levels has signed up to the vision of ‘convergence' where, over the next 20 years, all will work to bring the socio-economic conditions of east London up to the level of the rest of the capital. No one organisation will be judged on it, the timescales are long, and the measures of success are ‘technical'. Everybody is hugely committed, genuine and enthusiastic, but what we need is visible short-term commitment to show real difference for the local communities. But time is running out and, as we get closer to the event, everybody will be swept up by operational issues of hosting a massive invading army called the ‘Olympic family'. What can be done? For me, it is how we avoid a cliff edge between new icons of achievement, opportunity and wealth and the life experiences of some of the poorest communities in the country. Look at Canary Wharf. At least 150,000 jobs were created, less than 10% filled by local residents. There is a cultural ‘glass curtain' between it and surrounding communities. Is this inevitable with the games? Not if we do the following: jobs: Use councils and their partners to source local labour. East London councils know their local community and how to give each resident an individual pathway to employment. Scale it up volunteering: The LOCOG has just launched a national recruitment drive. Participants have to be available for training and spend the whole of the games in London – unpaid. Chances are a volunteer will be a retired professional from Harrogate with a chum in Highgate. Why don't local authorities step in and sponsor local residents to become LOCOG volunteers, and the host boroughs organise accommodation with residents close to the park? After the games, they get a goody bag and goodbye. Local authorities could use these well-trained volunteers Big Society-wise games tickets: It is very unlikely that local residents will get tickets. Host boroughs have even offered to buy them, as well as source crowds for less popular events. All cold-shouldered. Residents will miss out on the inspiration of seeing the best do their best. LOCOG must change its mind public realm: This will be improved around the Olympic Park. Walk a few hundred metres and there is a stark contrast which needs to be addressed. Improvements can be linked to ‘meet local resident routes', taking pressure off the main transport infrastructure and giving local communities a taste of the Olympic buzz the park: There is a risk of ‘blue fence' syndrome for several years. Let the local councils and community groups use the facilities so local people feel they are for them managing the games: Cleaning the streets or emptying the bins must continue. No matter how glitzy the park, if visitors arrive through dirty streets and cannot find anywhere to use the toilet while queuing, they will leave with a tarnished view. If it's not funded, local residents will pay three times – income tax, London precept and reduced service after the games: There are funding gaps for conversion of the stadia which, invariably, will be privately financed. Those involved will want a return on their investment, and community use will be squeezed out. Any deal done must secure affordable community access to facilities. The money to fund all this is available. Before the Government raided the ODA contingency budget, it needed to set aside sufficient funds to facilitate the Big Brother legacy – see the payback as the long-term community resilience that the games could stimulate. A survey of local residents revealed that more than 70% welcomed hosting the games, and the same number thought they would get nothing out of it. They will. The park investment has brought into use some of the most contaminated land in the country. It has massively accelerated economic development, with retail property giant, Westfield, building Europe's biggest town shopping centre in Stratford, and Siemens investment re-energising the Royal Docks. But hearts, minds and pockets are ignored at our peril. The Olympics could reinforce cultural barriers for local people if they feel excluded from the games, adding to the feeling that ‘this is not for us' rather than feeling ‘I'm up for it, and it's mine'. Joe Duckworth is former chief executive of Newham LBC and now runs his own consultancy

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WHITEHALL

Time is running out for an Olympics legacy

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