2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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Dame Tanni carries the torch for Barking and Dagenham

Britain's most successful paralympic athlete, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson DBE, launched Barking and Dagenham Council's Olympic prospectus 'Gateway to the Games' on Monday 12 June 2006.

Dame Tanni joined Rob Whiteman, Barking and Dagenham Council Chief Executive and Council Executive Members including Councillor Graham Bramley, Executive Member for the Olympics, at The Broadway, Barking.

The prospectus outlines the council's 'Olympic Pledge' and commitment to the local community.

Speaking at the launch, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson spoke poignantly about her time as an athlete and about the highs and lows of competing in 5 Paralympic Games. She said:

"I was born with spina bifida and during my life people have made judgements about my disability. But my parents taught me that it's not my problem.

"So from a very early age sport became a natural outlet for me. I wanted to win everything. I've always wanted to be the best and I can honestly say I've never failed. I haven't won every race, but I've tried my best and as long as you can say that you have done that you won't have failed."

Addressing the potential Borough Olympians in the audience, Tanni went on to say:

"I am well-known within the team for being nervous before every race. I am physically sick before races because that is how much they mean to me.

"My advice to the young Olympic hopefuls would be, if you make your mind up that this is what you really want, and some of you might decide to choose something different, then you have to dedicate your life to it. Don't ever settle for second best. What matters is that you give everything you can to be the best you possibly can. Enjoy it and never be afraid."

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be one of the largest events ever to be held in London and Barking and Dagenham Council wants to make sure residents and businesses are able to play their part and benefit from this world-wide event.

We want London 2012 to provide:

A more skilled and healthier population
A more successful economy
A stronger and more involved community
Improved buildings and facilities, including new leisure facilities, and
Good-quality housing that meets local needs

Over the next year Barking and Dagenham will plan and roll out a sports and physical-activity programme to develop new opportunities and encourage the local community to participate in sport.

There are lots of other ways residents can get involved in the Olympic agenda. We are looking for 500 volunteers to help deliver a number of community events in the build up to the 2012 Games, some of which will hopefully be able to represent the borough at the Games.

We are also developing a package to train local residents to become highly-skilled in areas such as health care, information technology, business administration, hospitality and leisure, allowing them to take advantage of the opportunities created by the 2012 Games.

The local community will benefit from brand new leisure facilities in the coming years, including a multi-purpose building combining a sports hall, community facilities and a new swimming pool to replace Dagenham Swimming Pool.

A modernisation programme of other leisure venues and facilities is also being planned. The 2012 Organising Committee has visited Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham and is hoping to use it as a training venue for the Games.

Homes for local people will be at the top of the agenda with more than £1 billion set to be invested over the next 20 years. The money will be spent making existing council properties some of the most desirable in east London, as well as building the kind of new homes that local people want and need.

Our prospectus 'Gateway to the Games' sets out how we are intending to attract new businesses and build new firms. Having just won Local Enterprise Growth Initiative money, we will be able to help businesses start and grow in the area.

Over the next 3 years at least £4 million will be invested in direct business support.

Vacant industrial sites in the borough are being identified where businesses relocating from the Olympics zone could be based. There are currently around a dozen firms earmarked to relocate to Barking and Dagenham helping boost our local economy.

Wednesday 14 June 2006

2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Latest news

Dame Tanni carries the torch for Barking and Dagenham

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