Hello everyone, thank you all for joining us for such a special day marking the 10-year anniversary of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I’m Gabrielle and I am proud to be the first person appointed by the Mayor to the London Legacy Development Corporation Board having previously served as a member of the Youth Board. 

This is a landmark moment for us all, but the legacy of London 2012 has always been about looking ahead and using the opportunities from the Games to create a better future for east London and London as a whole.

The Legacy Corporation are pleased to work alongside many international, national and local partners to achieve the developments on and around the Park that lend themselves to a better future, and at the heart of those are the four host boroughs alongside the local people, and vibrant communities and businesses.

 As a Tower Hamlets resident myself, I am so proud to have played host to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Attending the momentous sporting events in my own neighbourhood, witnessing the incredible atmosphere and knowing the greatest event in the world was happening on my doorstep was an inspiration in itself. But, as amazing as the sport and the athletes here today were, it had to be more than that.

The London legacy development corporation has always been committed to early and ongoing engagement with local people in developing the plans for the Park and working with the local boroughs to ensure a long-lasting physical, economic and social legacy. I was still trying to find my footing in 2011 doing youth journalism in Brick Lane and covered the Legacy Youth Panel’s recruitment event which was an interactive play about what would happen to the Park if no local people were involved in shaping it – it was such a meaningful performance that I joined my peers who had been involved since 2008 and it forged my career in town planning where I specialise in facilitating the same community involvement I was afforded. 

Me and my community are proud to have had the opportunity to shape and be involved in creating a Park full of world class sporting venues that are used by thousands of people every day; award-winning parklands, new homes, schools, community and health facilities as well as employment opportunities which have benefitted countless local people.

There’s still so much to look forward to in the next 10 years because of the investment brought about by the achievements here so far. We’re glad to see universities like UCL and UAL coming to the Park, along with East Bank bringing world class cultural organisations like V&A, BBC and Sadler’s Wells to east London.