Tony Blair yesterday vowed to ensure London was the best city in the world by 2012 and called on Londoners to take up the challenge.
He also pledged to offer his personal support to community sport in London.
Speaking at the launch of the policy document Building for Success: London’s Challenge for 2012, the prime minister said that 2012 is not just the date of a sporting occasion, but a deadline to confirm London’s position as the greatest city in the world.
Building for Success highlights the progress the capital has made and the work it needs to do over the next six years.
“The Olympics is not just a two-week sporting spectacular,” Mr Blair said. “This is, in fact, the last thing it is. The Olympics can be a catalyst for the city which will be its host.
“In a sense we are all competing for London and the Olympics in 2012. So to start that process in earnest today we are publishing a new policy document for London which will build on all that has happened in the city so far.
“The government will play its full part, but the report also sets out four concrete challenges – for London’s businesses, for London’s local and city-wide government, for voluntary and community groups and for Londoners themselves.”
The Prime Minister also launched a new website called Pledgebank London to encourage people to do a good deed for the city.
“Pledgebanklondon, run by the charity My Society, is an innovative website which brings together people who undertake to do a good deed, as long as they are joined by a certain number of other people,” he said.
“I want to make the first pledge. I will become the patron of a London community sports club if 100 other public figures join me in supporting other clubs, and I will work for the club over the years as the Olympics and Paralympics approach us to support their development and raise their profile.”
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has agreed to join the pledge.
London’s tourism body, Visit London, fully supports the Prime Minister’s determination for the city.
“We welcome Tony Blair’s commitment and belief in London as a city and as host of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said chief executive James Bidwell.
“London plays a crucial role in driving the nation’s visitor economy, being the major gateway for drawing visitors to Britain with more than 50 per cent of overseas visitors including London as part of their visit.
“London’s diversity, energy, accessibility and stature as a world leading city make it the only truly globally inclusive capital on the planet.”
“With two thirds of the world’s population having their eyes on the capital in 2012 and 60,000 journalists in London during the Games, London has the opportunity to transform the image of the tourism industry, to promote the destination to new audiences, to ensure a lasting legacy and to generate opportunities to bring economic benefit.”
