North Somerset could hit Olympic jackpot

4.24.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Jul 2005

Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Bell has said that Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset stands to gain a huge amount from the Olympics in 2012, if it plays it cards right in the build up.

Mike Bell, who is a member of both North Somerset Council and Weston Town Council, said: "Weston and North Somerset could benefit hugely from the 2012 Olympics in three key ways.

"We should try to get athletes and the Olympic Torch to North Somerset. We should use the Games to improve sports facilities and encourage our young people. We should take the chance to promote Weston and North Somerset to the global audience who will watch and participate in the Olympics.

"We can use the Olympic Games as an opportunity to promote sport in North Somerset and improve sports facilities in the district. Extra Government cash will be available from now until 2012 to boost sport in preparation for the Olympics, we need to be at the front of the queue to get our share.

"We should make an early bid to host athletes for training and preparation for the games and should encourage event organisers to bring the Olympic Torch to Weston.

"This will enable us to showcase the best of our landscape and help us locally to enjoy the economic, cultural and social benefits of the Olympic Games.

"At the Sydney Games in 2000, the state of Queensland - 1,000 miles away from Sydney - hosted 179 teams from 48 countries, and generated £17 million in the process. As many as 200 countries could participate in 2012 in 25

different sports.

"When the Olympics arrive in the UK in 2012 the eyes of the world will be turned on us. Images of the Games will reach up to four billion people worldwide. This is a wonderful window in which to advertise North Somerset.

"We should have a major arts festival to coincide with the Olympics and to show off the best of North Somerset culture. It is estimated that an extra 1.5 million tourists visited Australia between 2000-2004 as a result of the promotional impact of the Sydney Games.

"We need to use the Olympics as a springboard to boost the North Somerset tourism industry in the same way.

"I have written to the Leader of North Somerset, Councillor Alan Hockridge, to ask him to write to Lord Coe and the London 2012 team to highlight our case."