Securing the 2012 Olympic Games is an amazing economic, tourism and sporting coup in its own right, but we should also recognise it as a valuable opportunity for engineering.
The UK used to be world leader in aspects of engineering including rail, shipbuilding, heavy engineering, manufacturing and many other areas, as symbolised by great names like Brunel and Harland and Wolff.
Given the demise, or export, of so much of this country’s manufacturing and engineering, and the fact that we are overshadowed by other world markets, we must grasp this opportunity and use the construction of the Olympic infrastructure to reaffirm our proud presence in engineering to the world.
I am passionate about engineering and believe that making the most of this opportunity could also bring a more profound benefit in providing a psychological boost to this country’s flagging engineering and manufacturing sectors.
Over the next seven years I will be watching with interest to see if this vision becomes reality, though I suspect too much of the business will be given to overseas companies, as is currently the case in shipbuilding.
Passion, pride and confidence form part of the essence of engineering. If we do not have these regarding our own ability, who will?
Nicholas Long
Facet International UK
Glamorgan
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