SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY GETS BEHIND LONDON OLYMPIC BID

AN OLYMPIC GAMES HELD IN LONDON WILL BE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY for the South East to develop its sport and tourism activities and facilities. This was the message from the South East England Regional Assembly as it pledged its full support for London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Although the bid would be centred on London, the wide range of both sporting and tourist facilities required would mean that some of these would have to be staged outside the capital.

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the Regional Assembly, said: "The South East has the capability to offer excellent facilities for sports such as sailing and shooting. As a region, we are also very keen to offer the type of training venues and tourist facilities required to deal with the vast amount of competitors and spectators who would be attending such an event. An Olympic Games in London would benefit the whole of the greater South East. We would be particularly well positioned to accommodate international visitors."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007