Visioning Event Introduction and Background from Chris Hespe

Kent County Council (KCC) conceived an ambitious Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games in February 2005. Since then, the County Council has developed, managed and led the Campaign, which consists of a steering group of 22 partners, eight ‘sectoral task groups’, five cross cutting themes of focus, and a proactive identification and management of evolving issues, such as security. The Campaign seeks to ensure that Kent derives maximum benefit and long-term legacy from the 2012 Games.

One of the key priorities of Kent County Council through the Kent Campaign is to secure the Olympic Torch’s entry into the UK through Dover. This is because:

• The Torch’s arrival into the UK would be an opportunity for Kent (as must necessarily travel through County) to quite literally bring the ‘magic dust’ of the Games into the heart of various Kent communities in a very high profile manner.
• 2012 Torch arrival would support significant investment in place making and local pride
• 2012 Torch arrival should deliver enhanced tourism, economic development and inward investment
• 2012 Torch arrival would underpin and catalyse the regeneration efforts of local partners in Dover
• The 2012 Olympic Torch arrival in to Dover will receive global media coverage which will raise Dover’s international and national profile showcasing the region and the wider South East.

 

The reasons Dover is the natural choice are as follows:

• Dover was the welcome point for the Olympic torch when London last hosted the Games in 1948, when chief petty officer, and all round sportsman and bayonet fencing champion Herbert Barnes, received the torch from the French aboard HMS Bicester. It would be fantastic to reinvent this sporting historical moment.
• Dover is the natural gateway to London and the UK from Europe, and the gateway to Europe from London (and the Olympic Village at Stratford). Visitors' first and last impressions of the UK are formed here.
• The white cliffs of Dover are consistently recognised by international visitors as one of England's most famous landmarks. The torch's arrival at Dover would reinforce international interest and media profile of the London 2012 Games.
• Dover is a town undergoing significant regeneration. The opportunity to welcome the torch would provide an important opportunity to highlight and support the renaissance of the town, reflecting the importance of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games as a catalyst in regenerating another part of the UK, the East of London.
• Kent and Dover have significant experience of hosting international sports events with Dover hosting the World Archery Grand Prix in 2007 and the Open golf in 2003 as well as being selected to host the ‘Open golf’ in 2011. Kent has also hosted the Tour de France in 1994 and more recently in 2007.

 

The objective of the Kent campaign for the 2012 Torch is for London 2012 to determine that Dover be the first area in the UK that the Olympic Torch comes to within the 2012 Torch Relay. This is a Kent County Council led project but managed in close partnership with Dover partners, and within the local context of the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games and the regional context of the South East Partnership for the 2012 Games.

For the past two years Kent County Council and its partners have been campaigning for the Olympic Torch to arrive in the UK at Dover in 2012 as it did in 1948.

On March 20th 2009 local representatives across a wide range of sectors including politicians, businesses, residents, schools, creative and youth groups were invited to attend an event, to inform them of the progress we had made to date. This event was seen as an opportunity for interested parties to receive the latest information, meet the people involved in the Kent campaign, and network with a wide range of delegates from across the region. More importantly, this was opportunity to air views and contribute through a series of workshops towards the objectives and vision for the 2012 Torch Relay activity in Kent, and for the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the UK should the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, (LOCOG) choose Kent for this prestigious honour.

The venue for the visioning event was Cruise Terminal 1 at Dover harbour and approximately 100 delegates attended the event on the day.

Background preparatory resources were shared with all delegates prior to the Visioning Event Day. For a copy of the agenda for the Visioning Event Day please click here (pdf)