A year has passed since the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games. In the English capital, the anniversary is celebrated in the most natural way, with a Diamond League athletics meeting, the "Sainsbury's Anniversary Games", spread over two days, July 26 and 27. A double meeting organized in the stadium of the last Olympics. But, twelve months after the celebration, what remains of the Olympic event? A lot. And a little at a time.
Our facilities. The Olympic Stadium has only been used once, since the end of the Paralympic Games, for a Bruce Springsteen concert. Leased to the West Ham football club, for an annual rent of 2 million pounds, it will be transformed to meet the requirements of the Premier League, but should not receive its first match before 2015. It will retain its track, where the the World Athletics Championships in 2017. The Basketball Arena, supposed to be cut up and sold abroad, has still not found a buyer. However, it would be sold off for 2,9 million euros, plus the cost of transport and assembly. The project for an Olympic museum was postponed due to lack of budget.
The economic benefits. The London Games will have cost taxpayers 11,5 billion euros. According to the latest government report, their impact on the British economy has already been estimated at 11,4 billion euros. A result which should further increase over the next five or ten years. According to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, the Games would have saved the capital 70 years in terms of development. They have also created more than 30 direct or indirect jobs. But the Stratford district, where the Olympic Park stands, soon to be renamed "Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park", remains dominated by a high unemployment rate and strong insecurity. In east London, rents are soaring, with an average increase of 000%, compared to 19% in the rest of the capital.
The sporting benefits. They are contrasting. According to Sport England, the 2012 Games had a spectacular impact on sporting participation. At last count, 15,3 million people aged over 16 admit to playing sport at least once a week, an increase of 1.3 million since 2006. But the phenomenon is slowing down, especially among 16-25 year-olds. At the top of the pyramid, the British heroes of the Games are experiencing mixed fortunes. Jessica Ennis, crowned in the heptathlon, is struggling to recover from an Achilles tendon injury. Greg Rutherford, winner of the long jump, is keeping a low profile. But Mo Farah, crowned in the 5m and 10m, has just broken the European record in the 000m. Anthony Joshua, Olympic heavyweight boxing champion, is turning professional. But Chris Hoy, the most successful track cyclist in British sport, has retired. And Bradley Wiggins, winner of the time trial, now lives in the shadow of Christopher Froome. No doubt, however, for Andy Murray. Winner of the men's singles at the London Games, the Scottish tennis player has not touched the ground since his gold medal: he won his first Grand Slam tournament at the 2012 US Open, then repeated the feat earlier this month on the grass at Wimbledon.
