Poetry written in the libraries and youth centres of the Royal Borough was presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during their inspection of the city’s bid to host the 2012 summer games.
As part of the Council’s support for the Olympic bid, the Libraries and Arts service decided to express its interest in the bid through poetry. The London Archives, Libraries and Museums agency (ALM) and the London 2012 team liked this idea so much they wanted to present the poems to the IOC.
`The Land of Hope and Glory’ and `The Measure of all Things’ were written by poet Nick Makoha. Nick, works with people in the borough encouraging the development of new writing and live literature through workshops and cross-arts projects. Nick spent time discussing London’s bid to hold the Olympics with a dance class and a basketball team at Lancaster and Golborne youth centres. He also spoke to people in libraries across the borough and staff at
Kensington and Chelsea Council about their views on the bid. Nick then used this information to craft two poems, which illustrate the views of the people in Kensington and Chelsea.
Cllr Mary Weale, Cabinet Member for Education, Libraries and Arts said: “I am delighted that the views of people living in Kensington and Chelsea have been presented to the Olympic committee in such a personal way. Olympic poetry was a wonderful suggestion and I would like to congratulate the libraries for coming up with such an imaginative and innovate idea.”