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What are the Social Benefits from the 2012 Games?
CULTURE
One of the Major pillars in the London bid Strategy was that the Games are not only recognised as a major sporting event but also as a major cultural event.
This was essentially bringing the Games back to it’s original manifestation envisaged by the ‘father’ of the modern Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin who saw the Games as a ‘marriage between arts and sport’.
For the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games cultural activities will be centred around the Cultural Olympiad Programme.
The Cultural Olympiad is a four year long, UK wide programme of arts and cultural events that will enable organisations, groups and individuals to become involved in creative expression and celebrate the spirit of the Games. The true value of the Cultural Olympiad to is to ensure a lasting, sustainable legacy throughout the United Kingdom, beyond 2012 and the Games.
Arts Council Northern Ireland are the lead organisation on the Cultural element of the Northern Ireland 2012 Strategy.
The Creative Programmer for Northern Ireland, Cian Smyth, oversees the development and implementation of the Cultural Olympiad in Northern Ireland. Contact details below.
Cian Smyth, Creative Programmer for Northern Ireland,
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Email: csmyth@artscouncil-ni.org
Tel: 028 90385273
EDUCATION
The London Olympics 2012 should provide an opportunity to instil the Olympic spirit in young people by inspiring them through education. We want to maximize the benefits in the field of education so that the Games have a long-term impact on the lives of learners, particularly young people of the 2012 Olympic generation.
We believe the Games can add value to existing strategies. In particular, we want to use 2012 to:
boost young people’s interest in sport, increasing participation at community and grass-roots level in all sports, across all groups support young people to make healthy living choices help address young people's under-achievement and disaffection better equip young people in a global society by transforming their capability in language learning ensure that young people take a more outward-looking approach to other countries support the promotion of Olympic ideals of doing one's best, fair play and cultural understanding support inclusion and encourage positive views of disability, diversity and community cohesion.
In Northern Ireland, thousands of Children have become involved in Olympic Inspired programmes such as Activ8 and the Disability Sports 5 Star Challenge.
GET SET PROGRAMME
The Getset programme is the official London 2012 education programme for schools, college and local authority education providers across the UK.
The programme offers a huge range of opportunities and resoures targeted at 3-19 year olds and aims to enhance young people's learning through Sport, Culture and Education.
For further information on Get Set, including how to register on the Programme please visit the Official Get Set Website.
The Department of Education are the Lead Organisation on the Education element of the Northern Ireland 2012 Strategy.
VOLUNTEERING
In relation to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (as well as the 2013 World Police and Fire Games). The importance and significance of volunteering can not be understated.
Volunteering is recognised as:
A vibrant expression of active citizenship and community involvement A mutually beneficial gift relationship, which meets the needs of volunteers, individuals, organisations and communities.
Volunteering is a vital component in delivering a successful and memorable London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Games will require 70,000 Games Time volunteers (known as Games Makers). This will include a Young Games Maker programme for around 1,500 under 18’s.
Volunteers will also be required in Northern Ireland to assist in organisation of the 2012 Torch Relay or assistance with hosting countries based in Northern Ireland for pre-games training.
2012 provides an opportunity for Northern Ireland to involve the whole community in responding to and benefiting from the experience of participating in the Olympic Games.
Through increased volunteering in areas such as sport and community awareness, the Games can leave a tangible legacy in Northern Ireland which will act as a real benefit for volunteer participation in the 2013 World Police and Fire Games.
To note: The Volunteer Application Process for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is now closed
Volunteer Now are the Lead organisation on the Volunteering element of the Northern Ireland Strategy.
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