Matthew J. Burbank, Gregory Andranovich, Charles H. Heying,
Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001, ISBN: 978-1-55587-991-4, pb

The London Assembly commissioned research into the long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The research, produced by London East Research Institute at the University of East London, examines the lasting impact of hosting the summer Games had on Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, measuring their achievements in nine key areas including employment, urban renewal, skills and sports participation.

The Olympics project is large and complex. It is not easy to quickly grasp the nature of its probable impacts on the Lower Lea Valley and London. Here is a collection of four useful papers which together give a relatively short description of some of the significant impacts.

Universities may be disappointed if they are expecting to make large amounts of money on the back of the 2012 London Olympics.But the lack of new money and the scarce opportunities to use the Games to increase revenue is not deterring universities from all over the UK wanting to get involved in the run up to 2012.

Holger Preuss (Professor of Sport Economics and Sportmanagement, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany and member of Research Team Olympia), Edward Elgar, 2004, ISBN pbk 1 8 4376 893 3.

Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, 2000, State University of New York Press, ISBN pbk 0 7914 4756 1.

THERE is a pernicious myth surrounding the Olympic Games. We have convinced ourselves that it is a gleaming symbol of meritocracy, a place where sportsmen and women achieve through talent rather than privilege.