THE DIRECTOR of the organising committee for the 2012 London Olympic Games said businesses in Tayside could benefit from the event.

Speaking before delivering Dundee University’s Institution of Civil Engineering Prestige Lecture last night, Sir Craig Reedie told The Courier Scottish businesses had to seize the chances arising as a result of the 2012 games.

He said, “There are wonderful opportunities to show ourselves to the rest of the world and it’s important London puts on an outstanding show.”

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) recently launched a website designed to help companies compete for £6 billion worth of contracts linked to the games.

Sir Craig said, “So far, 180 Scottish companies have signed up..”

He revealed that after 2008 the committee will start to get busy and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will offer another £2 billion worth of business.

Dundee University also received good news at the beginning of the month when it discovered it was to be included in the official 2012 pre-games training and camp guide that will be published at the Beijing Games this summer and viewed by all of the national Olympic committees.

“We’ll take the list with us to Beijing and make it available to the 206 national committees,” Sir Craig explained.

“They will then know what’s available at each facility when deciding where to base themselves—so it’s now up to Dundee University to attract interest.”

He also said the 2000 British Olympic team travelled between Brisbane’s gold coast and Sydney with ease—drawing comparisons with Dundee airport’s daily services to London City airport.

“Any teams coming to Dundee could fly down to London City—which is only three miles from the site for the new Olympic Stadium in London’s east end.

“Dundee University now has to look at who they want to attract.”