As London begins the 100-day countdown until the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Green Mayoral candidate Jenny Jones has laid her vision for the Games and their legacy.
Jones said: "By the time the new Mayor is elected, there will be little room to change plans, but we can do a few things to promote a more equal, healthy and open Games.
"There is still time to improve accessibility and transport strategy, improve safety for visitors and make the games more open to young Londoners in particular.
"Perhaps most importantly, it is vital we ensure the best possible legacy for these games, ensuring that the Olympic Park is a beacon for London’s future and that the Games change the culture of sport in the capital for good."
Green pledges on the forthcoming games include:
– Accessibility: making all bus stops near Games venues accessible and well staffed to help older and disabled visitors.
– Transport: allowing cyclists and buses into the ‘VIP’ lanes and creating a 20mph speed limit
– Tickets for youth: giving unused corporate tickets to young Londoners on the day of events
– Safety: open dialogue between government, organisers and the policy to review plans to protect women, minority groups and free speech.
Green pledges on the Olympic legacy include:
– More youth sport: Make starting a youth sports club easier, including help finding pitches and coaches and completing CRB checks.
– Land use for sports: Offer property unused for more than six months to community sports organisations for nominal rent.
– Ethical sport sponsorship: establish an ethical sponsorship pledge for clubs to seek more appropriate sponsors than junk food outlets.
– Community involvement: help sports clubs make greater contributions to their communities before being given public funds.
– Sports culture: Promote supporter-trust owned clubs and encourage less unequal pay amongst non-sporting employees.
– Cycling and walking: Convert VIP lanes to cycle lanes or wider pavements.
– Better environment: deliver a zero carbon and zero waste Olympic Park by 2025 and ensure all green spaces are returned to community use or wildlife habitats.
– Housing: develop at least half of the Olympic Park through a Community Land Trust to give residents more control over their lives