The Olympic and Paralympic Games have been used to provide training for local people, and programmes such as the Local Employment Skills and Training programme (LEST ). In addition, local boroughs,...

The Olympic and Paralympic Games have been used to provide training for local people, and programmes such as the Local Employment Skills and Training programme (LEST ). In addition, local boroughs, the mayor and other agencies are working together more closely, with government support, on programmes to address the deep-seated social disadvantages experienced by much of the local population. Educational attainment, skills, worklessness, crime levels, health disparities and life expectancy are all being targeted (www.communities.gov.uk/regeneration/olympicslegacy/olympiclegacyeastlondon; more on the economics of the London 2012 Games can be found in Blake, 2005).