HOSTING THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: LONDON’S OLYMPIC PREPARATIONS AND HOUSING RIGHTS CONCERNS Background Paper COHRE’s Mega-Events, Olympic Games and Housing Rights Project is supported by the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN) 2007 © COHRE, 2007 Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions Rue de Montbrillant 83 1202 Geneva Switzerland Tel: +41.22.734.1028 Fax: +41.22.733.8336 Email:
[email protected] http://www.cohre.org Prepared by Claire Mahon Background This background research paper is part of the COHRE Mega-Events, Olympic Games and Housing Rights Project. It was prepared as a preliminary independent study of the impact of the London Olympics on housing rights. Similar studies were done for the cities of Atlanta, Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, London, Seoul and Sydney. The background research papers were used in the preparation of COHRE’s Fair Play for Housing Rights: Mega-Events, Olympic Games and Housing Rights report, launched in Geneva on 5 June 2007. The contents and opinions of the material available in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily correspond with those of COHRE. All documents published as part of this project are available at: www.cohre.org/mega-events/. Acknowledgements This project was funded by the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN). Research assistance for part II of this report was provided by Nicholas Jaquier. Many thanks to the local residents and housing activists who provided valuable input and advice on this study. Publications in the COHRE Mega-Events, Olympic Games and Housing