The youth of London have a message for the world about life in the capital and what the Olympic Games and its legacy really mean for those living in its shadow; it hasn't meant much in the way of improvement, especially with the cameras gone. Generation 2012, an event which is part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science, is a community digital storytelling project that gives them the opportunity to 'tell it like it is'. At the same time the event will be launching a debate about the role of sport in mediating notions of identity within multicultural societies.
Generation 2012 involves a group of young Londoners whose migratory roots and routes span the globe and reflect the rich diversity of the next Olympic host city. They all have stories to tell about what it means to be coming of age in today's cosmopolitan London and the hopes and dreams that the London Olympics have inspired. With the help of the BBC World Service and The Open University, they will become London's citizen journalists communicating their experiences and stories to millions around the world.
Generation 2012 will visit the Olympic site to meet representatives of the Olympic Delivery Authority, to review progress on the construction of the sporting venues and stadia, and to discuss the impact of the coming Olympics on their local communities. At the BBC World Service these young Londoners will then explore their own sense of place and identity within the context of London's Cultural Olympiad and the commitment to a sustained Olympic legacy for generations to come.
The resulting series of digital stories will form the basis of reports broadcast by the World Service in its flagship daily current affairs magazine programme Outlook, as well as online content hosted by the BBC and the Open University. This will include continuing debates around Olympic Themes such as the challenges of bringing sport and culture together, how to represent the cultural diversity and internationalism of the Games and their host city, and supporting the personal development of young people.
The voice of Generation 2012 offers a unique insight into the attitudes and aspirations of young Londoners as the Olympics approach. It also reflects the concerns of a generation that will have to manage the long term consequences of this global event well after the media spotlight has moved on. It is a voice that deserves to be heard.