Long Term Legacy

Patience is a rare thing in modern day society where information and so much more is available at your finger tips. Is it therefore surprising that many in the UK are beginning to question what really was the legacy of the London Olympics last year? They have read about the wrangles over the use of the Olympic stadium post Games and as a result many feel that they have been conned.

The truth however is often unseen, or should we say unreported, as it does not make such sensational reading. Just over a week ago in an interview with Britain’s Independent newspaper Lord Coe assured everyone that the legacy was never planned to be immediate, but to be seen over a ten year period.

As he promised Lord Coe has started the legacy program in schools and already GBP150million a year has been allocated to primary school sport. Something he is quoted as saying was achieved with the help of David Cameron the UK’s Prime Minister, as they “bumped heads together” of various government departments to achieve such a figure.

As Lord Coe stated this is not about elite programs but about ‘giving kids quality access to sport in primary schools, where it is most needed.’

Lord Coe has made it clear that this is a ten year plan and the results will not be seen for many years to come, but they will undoubtedly soon be evident, just as the effects of stopping competitive sport in state schools in the 1980’s had a massive impact on the British sporting landscape. Successful sporting teams lift a nation, and more people participating in sport gives you a healthier nation and takes a great deal of pressure of the health systems. If Lord Coe’s legacy achieves all of this it will have been a true legacy for all of Britain.