Following the second reading of London 2012’s Olympic Bill in the House of Commons Tessa Jowell, Britain’s culture secretary and minister for the London 2012 Olympic Games, told MP’s she has now been given the go-ahead to begin preparations for the Games. She said there was no time to waste.
She announced that the government has already taken the first major step in the development of the “best ever Olympic park” in Stratford. “I have today given the London development agency the go-ahead to start the massive construction and regeneration program that will shape the Olympic park to be ready in seven years time”.
She set out the three main purposes of the Bill, which is to create the public body that will get London ready to stage the Games called the Olympic Delivery Authority. It will provide the powers needed to meet the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) requirements about the way the Games and the Olympic environment are managed.
It also provides the mayor of London with an Olympic specific power so that he can meet his obligations as the signatory to the IOC’s host city contract.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) mandate includes taking charge of venue and transport plans for the Games.
Other details covered by the Bill will be the protection of the 2012 logo and the use of the five rings symbol of the Olympic Games.
It will ensure public transport systems are fully co-ordinated, will regulate commercial exploitation at the Games, and will tackle the issue of ticket touts and attempt to make the resale of tickets a criminal offence.
