Dear Paris 2024,

One year to go!

It was great hearing your Director of Impact Marie Barsacq speak at the launch of the OECD’s guidance on measuring the impact of events. Long-term impact has been at the heart of your plans for the Games, and that you’re not waiting around till next year to set up the projects that deliver that long term impact. It was great also to input into that guidance, and to see social and environmental impacts from events given parity was economic ones.

At Spirit of 2012, we’ve been funding projects inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for the past decade, all designed to build on the increased wellbeing, social connection and inclusion experienced by millions of people in the UK that summer.

  1. Long term impact and a clear plan for “what next” was the driver for your decision to host – so don’t lose sight of that as the countdown to the Opening Ceremony begins.
  2. Long term impact of events needs to be underpinned by demarcated funding, accountability and governance. More funders must commit to post-Games activity, as well as being part of the show.
  3. Greater attention must be paid to who benefits and who is left out – Don’t shy away from understanding those people who
  4. Make the most of opportunities to build common ground across divides – The year before London 2012, riots rocked parts of the city. Hosting a major event isn’t a sticking plaster for easing all community tensions, but it can play a meaningful role in creating a shared narrative, if people feel genuinely represented within the stories you are telling.
  5. Make the most of your volunteers after the events have ended – event volunteer programmes benefit from training and support that many community organisations can only dream of. Working alongside the existing infrastructure can leave it stronger than it was before.

 

Last year we were able to celebrate the tenth anniversary of London 2012 with a beautiful event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 10 years from now I hope you are able to reflect on the magnitude of your achievements and recognise the work still to be done as we did. We screened this video from My Pockets to mark the occasion, maybe it could give you some inspiration.

 

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