A new poll by the British Market Research Bureau shows that 76 per cent of respondents are pleased London is hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, with even higher backing among younger people and in London, southern England and Northern Ireland. More than 2,000 people were questioned.
The poll also shows that 81 per cent think 2012 will have a positive effect on London and 70 per cent on the country as a whole. Seventy six per cent of respondents are confident the UK will host successful Games and 63 per cent think the legacy from the 2012 Games should be wider than just sport.
Only 39 per cent know “a lot” or “a little” about plans for the 2012 Games with 41 per cent knowing “not very much” and the remaining one fifth knowing nothing about the Games. However in London the figure rises to 64 per cent.
Meanwhile another poll commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, reveals that only 42 per cent of UK adults are confident in the progress made on building the 2012 Games. The poll shows less than 50 per cent of Britons are confident of the progress so far made on the construction of the Olympics.
Respondents were generally confident that the aims of the 2012 Games would be achieved, and more than four out of five people agreed it was “extremely/very/quite likely” that the Olympic sports venues and parks would be built by 2012.
In this poll six in ten people said they knew very little or nothing at all about the plans for the 2012 Games while six per cent of respondents said they knew a lot.
The survey was taken from interviews with 2,115 adults aged 15 and over.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is launching a full investigation into Monday’s major fire on the Olympic site in east London, said ODA head David Higgins. The fire occurred at an unused warehouse.
Fifteen fire engines and 75 firefighters were deployed to the scene and after ascertaining that no lives were at risk a spokesperson said firefighters had “managed to reduce the risk to a minimum”.
After praising emergency services for their “first-class response”, Higgins said work had continued elsewhere on the Olympic park.
“There is to be a full investigation into this fire in a disused warehouse which was being prepared for demolition. Initial indications would suggest that this was an accident rather than arson. We are in touch with local residents and are keeping them informed of the situation”, he said.
