In a report "The People's Games", the Co-operative Party, which has close links to the Labour Party and whose members include Treasury financial adviser Ed Balls - who is tipped as a future Chancellor - calls on LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe and David Higgins, the chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), to give a real say to real people: London Council Tax payers and citizen supporters.

The author Peter Hunt, the general secretary of the the Co-Operative Party, said: "The London Olympics belong to all of the people of Britain - who will ultimately pay for the Games.

 

"However, there is little evidence of the Olympic organisers engaging with the citizens of our country.

 

"Decisions are only being taken by the great and the good."

 

For example, the report claims, in the ODA, out of the 14 Board members, four are Knights Bachelor, and one is a member of the House of Lords.

 

At LOCOG, all but one of the Board members are from the elite - there is one Princess, two Lords, four Knights, one MP and at least eight CBE, MBE and OBEs between them.

Hunt said: "But where are the people of London and UK sports enthusiasts in all this?

 

"It is time the organisers engaged with real people too."

 

The Co-operative Party is proposing the set up of a membership based community mutual, The "People's Games", which will unite the shared ambitions of the key organisers, the people of London, and sports enthusiasts.

 

The report also suggests a way to reconnect the Olympics with those it claims that they are meant for.

 

It outlines how all sports fans from across the country and the people of London in particular, can get involved to strengthen London's Games through "The People's Games".

"The People's Games" will give Londoners and UK citizens the right to become individual members.

 

It would be structured so that all stakeholders have a voice, in addition to the key Games partners:
Government, the Greater London Authority, LOCOG and the ODA.

 

It would allow, the report claims, for citizens to feel part of the Games, by enabling them to elect their own representatives onto the ODA, ensuring that public support is carried from day one to the end.

"The People's Games" would provide a genuine forum for informing and where appropriate, consulting with citizens.

 

It wouldl run a comprehensive series of events to ensure that citizens remain fully informed of the organising work progress.

 

It would be a focus for ensuring that the link with UK citizens remains strong.

 

But it would not be a one-way traffic, the report claims.

 

"The People's Games" would give rights to all stakeholders and guarantee that the Games will reflect their interests.

 

It should have representation on the decision-making bodies that are organising and developing the Games.

 

In this way, the report claims, there would be a genuine two-way dialogue between the executive and our citizens, to ensure that public support is maintained at its highest level -on the basis of mutual trust and transparency.

 

Meg Hillier, the MP for Hackney South & Shoreditch said: "Transparency is what my constituents and the rest of the country want for these Games.

 

"People want to be part of what will be a once in a lifetime event.

 

"Let's not forget that the diversity of London has played a key-role in the winning of the bid; the
best we can do for these Games is to allow all the people involved to be represented."

 

Andy Love, the MP for Edmonton said: "We want to give a new dimension to the notion of 'host city' - that of 'host people.'

 

"We want individuals involved in the Games, to take ownership, and take pride in their delivery.

 

"Then London will be inviting the world to the first ever 'People's Games'."