黑洞社区

The masterplanner of London鈥檚 Olympic Park has joined with Arup in appealing to ministers to release companies from strict rules on 2012 marketing or face a 鈥渕assive鈥� lost opportunity to capitalise on the Games just as the eyes of the world turn to the capital.

Jason Prior, the designer of the Olympic and legacy masterplans for London 2012 and a key part of Aecom鈥檚 competition-winning design for the masterplan for Rio 2016, told 黑洞社区 that UK construction鈥檚 ability to 鈥減romote and export its significant skills鈥� is imperilled by the No Marketing Rights Protocol.

Prior, the chief executive of planning, design and development at Aecom, was responding to 黑洞社区鈥檚 2012 campaign and its revelation last week that ODA chairman Sir John Armitt is now calling for ministers to relax the protocol, enforced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

Failure to release firms from the restrictions will result in the loss of an opportunity

Jason prior, Aecom

Prior told 黑洞社区: 鈥淟ondon 2012 and its success to date has put UK companies in the enviable position of being able to promote and export its significant skills to a global audience 鈥� that is, if the current restrictions on marketing and promotion are lifted.

鈥淔ailure to release companies and individuals from the current restrictions will result in the loss of a massive opportunity, not just for this industry but for the country as a whole.鈥�

Prior was backed this week by one of construction鈥檚 biggest names, Arup, which worked on almost 50 Olympic projects, including the aquatics centre and the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture.

Tom Foulkes, Arup鈥檚 head of marketing, said the firm had 鈥渟crupulously鈥� abided by LOCOG鈥檚 marketing and brand rules but said these were putting innovation and growth at risk.

He said Arup routinely applied to LOCOG in writing even before confirming what schemes it had worked on.

鈥淲e have done various amazing things at the Olympic park but are not able to talk about this because of the protocol,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his is a very strange world given the innovations that have been made and the great work that has been done. This protocol puts UK plc at risk.鈥�

Ministers are currently in discussions with LOCOG and its lawyers on the protocol but are insisting there is no prospect of relaxing the rules - designed to protect the promotional rights of Olympic sponsors - before the games end in August.

Last week, shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell raised 黑洞社区鈥檚 2012 campaign in the Commons and challenged Olympics minister Hugh Robertson on whether 鈥渢hose businesses that have done so well and are rightly proud of their contribution to this year鈥檚 Games are too tightly bound鈥� by the protocol.

Click to see 黑洞社区鈥檚 full analysis of the marketing rules.