London 2012: opportunities for China

A special reception highlights ways for overseas businesses to tap in to the London Olympics.

“Faster, higher, stronger”, that was the key message delivered at the ‘UK – Be a Part of It’ reception at the British Consulate-General, Hong Kong on 19th August.

Co-hosted by UK Trade & Investment and VisitBritain, Sir Alan Collins, British Consul General in New York and Tom Wright, Chief Executive of VisitBritain, met with more than 80 British and Hong Kong business leaders to discuss the commercial and tourism opportunities leading up to London 2012.

British Consul General for Hong Kong, Andrew Seaton, spoke of how the British Government was committed to ensuring that the 2012 Games provided a lasting legacy for the UK: “A legacy in regenerating and revitalising historically underprivileged areas of London. A legacy in encouraging and supporting excellence in sport. And also legacies – lasting benefits – in both business and tourism. On both counts, the UK has a world-leading offer and we want to make sure that the whole world knows about that.”

Our aim is simple and inspired by the International Olympic Committee’s motto to raise our game – ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’

Sir Alan Collins

British Consul General

Sir Alan Collins, who is also UK Trade & Investment’s International Legacy Champion for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games added: “The Games in 2012 will be an enormous catalyst for developing new businesses, inspiring them to internationalise. London 2012 will generate up to 75,000 contracts translating into approximately £21 billion of business outcomes for British and international companies.”

“The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Britain’s visitor economy – we expect to see the Games generate a tourism legacy of more than £2 billion. We want to reinvigorate Britain’s brand worldwide, reminding tomorrow’s travellers of the passion and vibrancy of the tourism experience to be found across the nations and regions of Britain,” added Tom Wright.

Sir Alan concluded: “Our aim is simple and inspired by the International Olympic Committee’s motto to raise our game – ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’: faster progress towards a highly skilled, highly competitive workforce; to raise the bar ‘higher’ for British companies to compete and win international business; and ‘stronger’ performance in attracting overseas companies to build their business in the UK and use it as a springboard for global growth.”