New figures show that London and the South East are being awarded a disproportionate number of lucrative Olympic contracts, they claim. 

 

The discrepancies are particularly high in the North East, North West and South West of England.

 

According to the Liberal Democrats, London and the South East have won almost 70 per cent of the contracts awarded so far, despite only 31 per cent of UK businesses being based in the region.

 

Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "These figures cast serious doubt on the Government’s promise that all parts of the country will benefit from the 2012 Games.

 

"The Games represent a massive opportunity for businesses, with £6 billion worth of contracts up for grabs.

 

"Over a third of this money has already been allocated, which makes it particularly crucial that the remaining contracts are distributed more equally.

 

"Every area is contributing to the Games, and every area must benefit."

 

Foster is supported by Jon Fairburn, a senior lecturer in geography at Staffordshire University, who believes the billions of pounds earmarked for London 2012 could be much better spent.

He said: "Is anyone seriously saying that as a result of the Olympics regeneration will benefit in Stoke-on-Trent?

"What's the total effect going to be?

 

"Probably not £10 million.

"Let's go mad and say it's £50 million; it's still not a great way of spending money if you are serious about regeneration.

"The potential benefits for North Staffordshire have been completely overstated.

"Let's say the latest Olympic cost figures of more than £9 billion are correct, although there have been warnings that will rise.

 

"If you divided between the regions, you'd get about £1 billion coming into the West Midlands.

"Then you'd sub-divide it, and a major conurbation in the north of the region, which everyone knows is one of the poorest in the country, might get a direct spend of between £250 million and £500 million - and that's a conservative estimate."

Companies in Birmingham have secured seven Olympic-related contracts and Manchester five with Leicester and Nottingham have secured one each, Fairburn said.

Fairburn believes promises of increased wealth in the provinces as a result of 2012 will go unfulfilled.

He said: "The Government should have said we are going for the Olympics because we're a rich country and it's what rich countries do - we want a prestigious event and we want to get the world's attention.

"If they had said that then I might have disagreed, but at least it would have been honest.

 

"It's the dishonesty I can't stand.

 

"They keep going on about regeneration and deprived communities, but this is just a Trojan horse that doesn't bring in any real money to deprived areas.

"If you want to help regeneration in deprived communities then give them the money directly.

"But don't tell me there's going to be regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent 160 miles away because the Olympics games is being hosted in London."

 

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said that Cannock-based Atos Origin, a worldwide Olympic sponsor, had been employed to give them technology advice.

Debra Gratton, Stoke-on-Trent City Council portfolio holder for sports and leisure, said: "The Olympics offer a fantastic opportunity for Stoke-on-Trent businesses to showcase their talents on a worldwide stage.

 

"The city has a wealth of companies which could directly benefit from the 2012 Games.

"The money and opportunities are out there and I do believe Stoke-on-Trent will be able to pull in very big contracts on the back of the games.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we need to be making the most of it."

Stoke shop Bourne Sports - which runs an international internet sales site - has a long history of winning deals from major sporting events, including the World Hockey Cup in 1985 and the World Cross Country Championships earlier this year.

Owner John Bourne is confident of landing a similar deal for 2012.

He said: "We have London 2012 and we have come up with a good idea and plan.

 

"I think we will be very unlucky not to get it because we have done lots of things like this.

"I would expect to get the nod before the year is out."