30 youngsters chosen to scrutinise London Olympic legacy

The new recruits – picked from the six Oympic host boroughs – have joined the existing 60-strong Legacy Youth Panel tasked with scrutinising the planning and design of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to ensure the plans meet the needs of young people and their communities.

The panel was involved in last year’s North and South Park design competitions and will pay particular attention to plans for early housing developments on the site.

Olympic Park Legacy Company chief executive Andrew Altman said: ‘Young people are at the heart of the Olympic Park Legacy Company’s plans. The Legacy Youth Panel means they can get involved in designing and delivering some fantastic new facilities for this part of London.

‘Legacy plans for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are more advanced than any other previous host Olympic city and this is the generation that will benefit the most.

‘With the Games just a few months away it’s a really exciting time to join the Legacy Youth Panel.’

Seventeen year-old participant Nahimul Islam said: ‘The Legacy Youth Panel is a great way to get your voice heard and really make a difference as a young person. It creates a platform for young people and the reason I joined is to represent the young people of my borough as well as others. I hope to ensure a young people friendly legacy for the Olympics and bring the best out of this youth panel.

Catherine Northcolt of Bridge Academy, Hackney said: ‘I wanted to become a member of the Legacy Youth Panel because I wanted an input into such a big event and the legacy that will be left behind. London isn’t just a home for adults but thousands of young people.’

Destinie Okoibhole from St Ursula’s Convent School, Greenwich added: ‘It is a great chance for the youth to get involved in things that will affect us now in the future as we are the next generation and the decisions of today can change lives forever.’

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