Olympic Park tour

The Barking Area Regeneration Group toured the Olympic Park this afternoon to see and hear at first hand the Olympic Legacy plans.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company's aim is that the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be at the centre of London’s growth this century, and a vibrant focal point for events, sport and leisure. Its connections, sporting facilities, parkland, waterways and family housing will form a unique mix – building on the best of London’s traditions to create a ‘21st Century garden city’ and liking into surrounding neighbourhoods to promote convergence, regeneration and prosperity in east London.

The Park site will be developed into two distinct areas: a vibrant, urban south plaza akin to London's South Bank and a green, scenic north park. The south plaza, adjacent to Westfield Stratford City, will be a crossroads for sport, culture and quality design with a rolling programme of events starting from 2013. Home to the Olympic Stadium and the iconic Aquatics Centre, the plaza will also feature the 115m tall ArcelorMittal Orbit designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond - a unique, global attraction and the UK's tallest sculpture.

The north of the Park will include extensive revitalised waterways and landscaped parklands with an emphasis on sport and leisure. Visitors will enjoy cycle paths, play areas and use of the Velodrome and neighbouring Eton Manor sports complex, both of which will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority after the 2012 Games.

In addition, a new campus-style business district will be developed in the north-west of the Park. Focused on creative and innovative industries, the area will offer affordable and flexible office space to encourage the successful businesses already based in East London to grow. The stated need from local residents is for real jobs and opportunities to build careers across a range of business sectors. The Park and its key employment hubs will aim to address this need by creating 8-10,000 jobs located in these modern workspaces within an inviting parkland setting.

The neighbourhoods of the Park will provide residents with a range of homes in a location that it is hoped will become one of London’s most celebrated places over the next ten years. These neighbourhoods will include vital community facilities such as schools, shops, places to relax, play and exercise as well as faith, health and community centres.

As the gateway to the Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford City is part of one of the largest urban regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK. Stratford City and the Olympic Park together form a 700-acre development. Seventy per cent of spectators will pass through Westfield Stratford City en route to the Olympic Park Games venues, and Visit London has forecast that the London 2012 Games will contribute an additional £1.3 - 2.2 billion to London tourism over the period 2007-2017.

InSpiration will be the faith zone in the biggest urban shopping centre in Europe, Westfield Stratford City. Designed as a worship and prayer area and also as a quiet space, InSpiration is a facility which will be used by people of all faiths and none. Located on the 3rd floor near the Food Court, it will have an open area used for collective activities and a smaller area with armchairs and tables for private prayer, quiet time, one-on-one conversations and small groups. There is currently an opportunity for people to staff the facility in a variety of time slots. InSpiration will be open 11am to 7pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

The 2012 Games provides a unique opportunity for UK churches to be seen for what they really are.
By playing their part in the programmes of outreach, hospitality and service every church can help tell a different story. And waken fresh interest in who it is who makes us different and how they can know him for themselves. More Than Gold exists to enable the UK churches to engage with the 2012 Games.

As churches and communities nationwide are preparing to put on special events to celebrate the Games, a prayer composed by Reverend Christopher Woods has been issued by the Church of England:

A prayer in preparation for the 2012 Games

Eternal God,
Giver of joy and source of all strength,
we pray for those
who prepare for the London Olympic and Paralympic games.
For the competitors training for the Games and their loved ones,
For the many thousands who will support them, For the Churches and others who are organising special events and who will welcome many people from many nations.
In a world where many are rejected and abused,
we pray for a spirit of tolerance and acceptance, of humility and respect
and for the health and safety of all.
May we at the last be led towards the love of Christ who is more than gold, today and forever. Amen

Perhaps, in light of the above, a prayer is also needed for the Olympic Legacy:

Our Father, in praying your kingdom come on earth as in heaven,
we pray for the hopes and dreams
invested in the Olympic Legacy to be realised.
For the formation of uniquely mixed neighbourhoods,
the attraction of innovative industries creating employment,
spaces to relax, play, exercise, pray and serve,
affordable family housing combined with vital community facilities.
May we build on the best traditions
of convergence, regeneration
and sustainability in east London
to seek to create a garden city
which is a crossroads for sport, culture and design
and come to see in our human striving to achieve this vision
a sign of your kingdom coming. Amen.

Click here for my earlier visit to the Olympic Park site.

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Bjork - Oceania.