Australian SMEs urged to pitch for 2012 London Olympics projects

Australian businesses have been encouraged to act now in order to win business in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

A networking opportunity for businesses looking to get involved in the 2012 London Olympic Games was hosted by the NSW State Government yesterday, along with British investment agency Think London.

The NSW Minister for State Development Ian Macdonald says the Australian businesses have a head start in pitching for work in the lead up to the Games.

“NSW companies cut their teeth at the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and further honed their skills by contributing to subsequent events including the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic as well as the Doha 2006 Asian Games.

“Now London 2012 is firmly on our horizon.”

Macdonald says businesses have much to offer the London 2012 Olympics, including providing strategic planning, risk management, traffic management, infrastructure development, ceremony planning and staging and volunteer training.

Around 40 executives from 24 companies attended the conference, which was also attended by British Consul General Richard Morris.

Companies already involved include PTW Architects (which is working on the Olympic handball arena), BVN Architects (which is working on the athletes’ village) and Sinclair Knight Merz (which is working on the basketball arena).

Engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff is engaged on transport planning while construction giant Lend Lease is developing and constructing the athletes’ village.

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