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London is breaking new ground in preparing for the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games according to a new report published yesterday.

The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) concluded that "few cities will have prepared for Olympic Legacy as directly and consciously as London has" and that "a new international standard" for hosting major events and large scale regeneration is being set by London.

The OECD report -  part of the LEED (Local Economic and Employment Development) Programme - hailed the unprecedented and extraordinary range of activities that are going ahead to build a lasting Olympic legacy for the communities of East London, highlighting the huge range of local benefits that will result from large-scale regeneration activity.

Local Government Minister Bob Neill, who leads for Government on the Olympic Legacy for East London, welcomed the findings, which highlighted in particular:

• early creation of the Olympic Park Legacy Company to deliver a lasting physical and socio-economic legacy for local people starting with the creation of the Legacy Vision
• the five local authorities in the Olympic area working together to secure joint and lasting benefits from London 2012 for their constituents through their Strategic Regeneration Framework
• the work of the Olympic Delivery Authority in creating a lasting environmental legacy, world class standards in sustainable construction, and high calibre facilities
• the increased opportunities for small and medium enterprises to win high value contracts in East London
• the improved transport links that open up employment opportunities to local people.

Bob Neill said:

"Everybody is working hard to ensure that the reach of London 2012 goes far beyond the games. Today's report from the OECD has confirmed we are on the right track. We've learned from both the successes and failures of our predecessors and this report can help us take the next steps toward triumph.

"It's clear that the OECD share the Government's view that communities know best how to meet their area's needs and ambitions. We've already begun to put control of Legacy decisions back into local authorities' and the Mayor of London's hands and there's still more to do.

"I look forward to seeing the Mayor of London, boroughs and local businesses working together to secure an Olympic legacy for East London that we can all be proud of."

The OECD's study was informed by a think piece report undertaken in 2009 by the University of East London (UEL). The report, which looked at the socio-economic conditions in the Olympic Host Boroughs, and the possible opportunities for creating a lasting legacy, is also being published today.

This month the Government's long-term commitment to the Olympic Legacy was also emphasised through the Olympic Park Legacy Company's twenty year vision for the newly named Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Notes to Editors

1. The OECD report can be found at: http://www.oecd.org/document/56/0,3343,en_2649_33956792_46203384_1_1_1_1,00.html.

2. The independent report was commissioned in Autumn 2009 and the work carried out between late 2009 and mid 2010. The study consisted of a series of site visits and stakeholder and workshops, followed by the experts' reports on the progress of London 2012 and its legacy planning.

3. The think piece report London's Olympic Legacy. A "Think piece" report prepared for the OECD and Department of Communities and Local Government from the University of East London is available at: http://www.uel.ac.uk/londoneast/.

4. The UEL study was written by Professor Gavin Poynter and Dr Iain Macrury of the University of East London and completed in late 2009. It was commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government to provide a local socio-economic and policy context to inform the OECD expert Review of London 2012 legacy.

5. The UEL report set out to answer three questions:

1. What are the key socio-economic problems in the five host boroughs?

2. What could the London 2012 legacy look like? (Based on the evidence of previous games and similar major events, best practice, and the plans and preparations that have been made to date)

3. Do we have the appropriate governance arrangements to maximise legacy benefits?

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