Hampshire has had a £50m boost and 15 per cent drop in crime because of the London 2012 Olympics legacy, according to a new report.
Andy Macklin waves to the crowds as he carries the Olympic torch through Fareham
Members of Hampshire County Council’s Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs Select Committee have heard how the Games benefitted the county.
Figures from LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority show that 183 Olympic business contracts with Hampshire firms have generated around £36m.
The Olympic Torch spent more time in Hampshire than any other county and thousands stood waving flags to watch it pass through Fareham town centre in July.
The relays, which saw around 450,000 residents lining the county’s streets in support, boosted Hampshire’s economy by around £10m.
Scores of Olympic events were held throughout the county, which included school sports events in the Western Wards as part of the Get Set Network to support the Games.
Ninety-one per cent of Hampshire teachers, who took part in a national survey, said that using the values of the Olympics and Paralympics had a positive effect on pupils’ motivation, while 75 per cent reported that the Games had a positive effect on improving the school atmosphere, morale and attainment of youngsters.
Around 10 per cent of the total Team GB medal haul in both the Olympics and Paralympic Games came from the 44 athletes with links to Hampshire – whether they were raised in the county or trained locally.
The athletes’ four gold, three silver and 10 bronze medals in both Games made Hampshire the second most successful Olympic county, after Yorkshire.
Crime levels in Hampshire fell 15 per cent during the Games and 10 per cent during the Paralympic Games, the report showed.
Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman, said: “The Olympics may be behind us, but they have left a fantastic legacy not only in Hampshire, but throughout the country as a whole. The achievements of Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes have inspired the nation, as well as helping to change public perceptions around disability, and wider health and wellbeing issues.”