LOCOG

LOCOG
source
Name	LOCOG
Formation	2005
Type	Organising committee
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	Lord Coe
Key people	Sir Keith Mills
Parent organization	British Olympic Association

LOCOG

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) was the body responsible for staging the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London. Created to plan, organise and deliver the Games, LOCOG coordinated with multiple international, national and local institutions including the International Olympic Committee, the British Olympic Association, the International Paralympic Committee, and the Mayor of London. Its remit encompassed sporting venues, ceremonies, ticketing, sponsorship, and volunteer programmes in collaboration with partners such as Olympic Delivery Authority, UK Sport, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the National Lottery.

Background and formation

LOCOG was established following London's successful bid to host the 2012 Games, a campaign involving figures like Sebastian Coe, Tessa Jowell, Ken Livingstone, and organizations including the London Bid Committee 2012, Team GB, and the British Olympic Association. The committee was formed in response to obligations set by the International Olympic Committee after the bidding victory announced in 2005, with legal and operational frameworks influenced by precedents from the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and the Athens Organizing Committee. Early formation involved interactions with statutory bodies such as Parliament of the United Kingdom, Greater London Authority, and agencies like the Environment Agency and Transport for London.

Structure and governance

LOCOG's governance combined corporate and public-sector models, overseen by a chair, chief executive officers, and a board drawing on expertise from leaders such as Lord Coe and Sir Keith Mills. Its governance arrangements referenced corporate practice seen in entities like KPMG, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers through advisory roles, while reporting relationships linked to ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Mayor of London. The committee incorporated directors responsible for sport, ceremonies, operations, and communications, and it engaged with unions including Unite the Union and GMB (trade union) on workforce matters. Stakeholder oversight included representatives from the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee to ensure compliance with the Olympic Charter and the IPC Handbook.

Responsibilities and operations

LOCOG's mandate covered venue management, competition scheduling, accreditation, ticketing, marketing, sponsor programmes, and ceremonies, interacting closely with sporting federations such as the International Association of Athletics Federations, the International Swimming Federation, and the Union Cycliste Internationale. Operational logistics linked to transport partners like Transport for London, security coordination with Metropolitan Police Service and Ministry of Defence, and public health liaison with NHS England. Commercial responsibilities involved signings with sponsors including Visa Inc., Samsung, McDonald's, and BP (British Petroleum), and ticket distribution in cooperation with ticketing partners and national bodies like UK Sport and the British Paralympic Association. Volunteer programmes were delivered alongside civic organizations such as St John Ambulance and British Red Cross.

Planning and delivery of the 2012 Summer Olympics

In delivering the 2012 Games, LOCOG coordinated venue readiness across sites like the Olympic Stadium (London), ExCeL London, Wembley Stadium, and the Royal Artillery Barracks, scheduling competitions with federations including Fédération Internationale de Football Association, International Basketball Federation, and International Rugby Board. LOCOG managed ceremonies featuring creative teams that included artists with links to institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, BBC, and National Theatre. Transport and security operations involved partners such as Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police Service, and SO15 Counter Terrorism Command. Legacy planning aligned with agencies like the Olympic Delivery Authority and local authorities including Newham London Borough Council and Greenwich London Borough Council.

Controversies and criticisms

LOCOG faced criticism and legal challenge over several issues: the recruitment and labour conditions of contractors linked to firms such as G4S; sponsorship agreements that prompted debate involving corporations like McDonald's and Visa Inc.; ticket allocation controversies affecting fans, athletes' families, and organisations including British Olympic Association; and intellectual property enforcement actions against vendors and community groups referencing the Olympic symbol and London 2012 emblem. Media scrutiny came from outlets like the BBC and The Guardian, and parliamentary questions were raised in the House of Commons and House of Lords, with ministers such as Tessa Jowell and officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport responding.

Legacy and post-Games activities

After the Games, LOCOG transitioned responsibilities and worked with legacy bodies including the Olympic Delivery Authority, the London Legacy Development Corporation, and local authorities like Newham London Borough Council to repurpose venues into facilities for organisations such as West Ham United F.C. at the London Stadium and community projects involving Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. LOCOG's volunteer database informed programmes run by charities like Volunteering Matters and sporting pathways managed by Sport England and UK Sport. Post-Games audits and evaluations involved institutions such as the National Audit Office, and lessons informed future bid processes reviewed by the International Olympic Committee and potential hosts like Paris and Los Angeles.

Category:2012 Summer Olympics