Olympic Games 2012

The main site for the Olympic Games in 2012 will be located at Stratford in the London Borough of Newham which is in Chelmsford diocese. The Olympics will make a major impact on a large area of Newham. A 500-acre Olympic park will include the athletes' village, the main stadium and swimming pools.

In February 2007 the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) submitted the planning application for the Olympic park: 2.5 sq km, of buildings and sports facilities. This will be the largest regeneration project in inner London. The site is mainly derelict industrial or brownfield land.

We welcome the Olympic Games and we are working in partnership with others to serve the needs of all those who will be involved in the project and the event – the community, the planners, the construction teams, the athletes, the visitors and the service providers.

We have already appointed a priest to provide ‘hard hat’ chaplaincy to the Stratford City construction site, and an Olympic executive co-ordinator. Many church people will be assisting at the Games as volunteers.

As well as being active participants in planning for the Games we have started to explore how they can benefit the whole the community. We are focusing on some of the wider issues at stake.

The budget for 2012 was originally set at £2.4bn in 2005 but has soared to £9.35m in 2007. The ODA say that regenerating the area will account for most of the money; the Olympic element is relatively modest. The legacy of the Games is the top priority.

Visit these websites: London 2012, London Development Agency, Olympic Delivery Authority.