More Olympic business up for grabs, says Coe

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 18:47

SEBASTIAN Coe yesterday responded to SNP complaints that few Scottish companies were benefiting from the 2012 London Olympics.

During a visit to Glasgow, Lord Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog), said there was "real excitement" about the prospect of the world's greatest sporting event going to the capital.

Figures produced by Pete Wishart, the SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, revealed that 17 Scottish firms had received contracts from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), compared with 1,022 English firms.

He added that firms in Wales had received four contracts while businesses in Northern Ireland have won three. Coe said this was a matter for the Olympic Delivery Authority.

The Olympic gold medallist said:

"All I would say is the organising committee have 700m of business to award next year and we will entertain invitations to tender from the whole country and that's very important."

A series of celebrations – including the BT Tower being lit up with a special pyrotechnic display – took place yesterday to mark the start of the 1,000 -day countdown to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

But concern has also been raised over whether legacy promises to help increase grassroots participation can be achieved.

John Armitt, chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority, which is in charge of Olympic build, said: "Over 7,000 people are now working on the Olympic Park and Athletes Village and together the team is putting in place the foundations for the sustainable regeneration for the residents of east London."