London 2012 Involvement and Opportunities
How is the region involved and maximising its opportunities?
Like other regions, North East England engages with the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games through the Nations and Regions Group.
By feeding directly into the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), this group works to ensure that the benefits associated with the London 2012 Games reach all parts of the UK.
Tim Cantle-Jones, Chair of the Regional Sports Board, is this region's representative on the Nations and Regions Group. This is further supported by One NorthEast and Sport England who are leading on all London 2012 Games related activities in North East England.
Organisations from across the sporting spectrum as well as the public and private sectors are consulted and partnered with to deliver a robust programme of activities that will help the region to gain as many benefits from this major event as possible.
A regional forum has been established to develop and deliver a regional plan for the London 2012 Games. This plan will focus on themed areas and specific actions will be led by Sport England and One NorthEast.
Themes led by One NorthEast:
Business: to ensure that regional businesses are best placed to access the range of contracts associated with the 2012 Games and to build regional capacity in relation to other major sporting contracts.
Tourism/Image: to ensure that North East England attracts a share of the overseas visitors expected to visit London before, during and after the 2012 Games.
Culture: to ensure full engagement and representation of North East England communities, individuals and talent in the cultural celebrations associated with the 2012 Games.
Skills and Volunteering: to ensure that regional communities and individuals are given the opportunity to develop talent and skills.
For further information about One NorthEast led themes email Tanya Gray
Themes led by Sport England:
Facilities: to ensure that the North East maximises on the world-class regional facilities that exist and creates propositions capable of attracting visiting teams and events both in the lead up to and following on from the 2012 Games.
Performance Sport: to ensure that the region’s talented performers have every opportunity and are given appropriate support to participate in the 2012 Games.
Children and Young People: to ensure that the educational and inspirational spirit of the 2012 Games inspires and informs the region’s children and young people.
Health: to ensure that the 2012 Games acts to inspire regional communities and individuals to make positive improvements to their general health and well being through sport and physical activity.
For further information about Sport England led themes email Ian Thurlbeck
Who are the key people involved in maximising these opportunities?
The regional forum members and the organisations they represent are as follows:
Tim Cantle Jones – Chair of the Regional Sports Board
Judith Rasmussen – Regional Director, Sport England
Stacy Hall – Director of Communications, One NorthEast
Andrew Hailwood – Chair of regional National Governing Body Network
Jonathon Blackie – Regional Director, Government Office for the North East
Olivia Grant – Chair of Culture NE, Culture North East
Helen Weston – Chair of North East Federation of Sport & Recreation
Ruth Lewis – Chair of Regional Equity Network
Melanie Laws – Director, Association of North East Councils
Jo Boaden – Chief Executive, NorthEast Assembly
Helen Pickering – Universities for the North East
John Lowther – Tees Valley Partnership
George Snaith – Tyne Wear Partnership
John Litherland – Northumberland Strategic Partnership
Chris Roberts – Regional Director, Learning and Skills Council
Bill McGawley – representing Northern Business Forum
Meryl Dodd – representing Northern Business Forum
The regional forum held its first meeting on the 16 March 2006 and will continue to meet on a six-monthly basis.
Further information regarding regional forum meetings, email
Tanya Gray from One NorthEast.
Supporting Documents and Downloads
Olympics Business Presentation 21st July 06 [pdf]
(222 KB)
