Inspiring a generation: an examination of stakeholder relations in the context of London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics educational programmes

ABSTRACT

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012) inspire a generation legacy aim targeted young people in the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally. This article explores how the London 2012 education-based legacy programmes aimed at young people, such as the Get Set initiative, affected relations between stakeholders connected to the Games. Utilising a stakeholder relations theoretical perspective we analysed documentary-based dialogue from a UK parliament Education Committee inquiry through a critical discourse analysis. From the analysis two discourses emerged. Firstly, around clarity of the purpose of the London 2012 educational programmes. Secondly, varying stakeholders’ understanding during the inquiry of the inspire a generation legacy aim was articulated around the notion of a “missed opportunity,” in particular, when translated into the domestic policy context around education and sport. The findings encourage stakeholders to reflect on potential fragmented accountability between sport mega event and domestic sectors; and achieving greater clarity to the purpose of legacy-based educational programme within a broader policy context.

KEYWORDS:

• Olympic
• London
• stakeholder
• education
• legacy
• policy

Acknowledgements

The data for this paper was largely collected as part of the PhD studentship commissioned by the University of Worcester and ongoing collaboration with the Sport and Recreation Alliance. The authors would like to thank Dr. Aaron Beacom and Dr. Vassilios Ziakas for putting this valuable Special Issue together as well as the referees for providing comments on the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Verity Postlethwaite http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3246-4611

Geoffery Z. Kohe http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6683-6669

Gyozo Molnar http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1732-5672

Notes

1 It is acknowledged that the UK consists of devolved policy areas to the home nations, where appropriate reference will be made to English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish differentiation in policy. However, for the purpose of this article and the UK sentiment around London 2012, policy is referred to as UK based.

2 A British charity which aims to support education and development of young people through physical education, established in 1994.