Barcelona sets the example for London's upcoming Olympic Games

London (ACN).- Birkbeck University organised on Friday and Saturday the workshop 'Learning from Barcelona: Art, Real State and the Pre-Olympic city'. The event explores the dialogue between Barcelona and London in hosting the Olympic Games –showing that London can learn from the Catalan capital's experience as host in 1992.

Mari Paz Belibrea, a professor from the University of Birkbeck involved in the programme said: "From an institutional point of view, Barcelona is a perfect example because it was a great, organisational success and was well-received both locally and internationally. It put Barcelona firmly on the map and presented the city, globally, in a very good light." What worked well in Barcelona was the degree to which the Olympic Games were integrated into the city, with many new connections to the Games site being created leading to a change in the very structure of the city.

Beatriz Garcia , another academic who spoke at the workshop explained how important it is for the Games not to be isolated. She said: "[The Games] must be linked to the city and be sensitive to the needs of the communities that exist in the city and the neighbourhoods surrounding the Olympic celebrations." London has approached the Games in a different manner as the main stadiums have been situated in the East, slightly outside the city. Connections to the Olympic site already exist and have not led to any fundamental change in city structure.

"In the case of London, one has to be sensitive to the needs of city's eastern parts and not to exclude the groups living there as there is pressure for things to happen at a global level", warned Garcia. Although urban development generated by the Olympic Games, is heralded as the big opportunity of growth during the economic crisis, there are negative consequences. Many people living in the East, one of the poorest and least developed parts of London, have been expelled from the area, without any alternatives or provisions having been made.

Balibrea commented: " It's important to distinguish between the urban regeneration and the improvement in living standards of the locals in the area. Obviously the regeneration can be considered beneficial in terms of architecture and urban development in the East, the issue is whether this has been in face of locals' explusion."

The twenty year gap has created a different context of challenges for the Olympic host and although London can use Barcelona's success as a exemplary model, it must use this Olympic opportunity to create growth and regeneration fairly and in a way that will impact the population in a positive way. In light of the current economic situation, London has a greater responsibility to make the 2012 Olympic Games a resounding success for its country.