Terrific London 2012 Conference
150 delegates packed the UK Centre for Carnival Arts at the Annual BOOST London 2012 Conference on Thursday 26 November 2009. The Conference, a partnership with Experience Bedfordshire and London Luton Airport (who part sponsored the event). Delegates enjoyed a mix of key note speakers, the world premiere of Makin Sport - a brilliant performance of music, dance and street verse, workshops covering Culture, Business, Tourism and Sport..... all finished off with a Caribbean Lunch and “thanksgiving” USA style deserts including Mississippi Mud Pie, Key Lime Pie and Pecan Pie – yummy!
Key note speakers included Charles Allen, main Board Director of London 2012 who set out the national picture on the tremendous progress being made, Stephen Castle, Chair of Nations and regions East who set out the regional context for London 2012, Keith Brown, CEO of East of England Tourism who highlighted the potential in the East for Tourism business around London 2012 and Jo Lloyd, from Experience Bedfordshire and London Luton Airport, who championed the opportunities for local tourism businesses.
The spectacular performance of Makin Sport by a group of local young people was sensational and enjoyed by all. It was an innovative mix of hip hop, street dance, ballet, rapping and street verse – all pulled together by a brilliant piece of new music written and performed by Aaron Soul called Sporting heroes (this can be heard on the BOOST website). Aaron Bailey the “street poet” performed a fantastic and inspirational piece. Makin Sport was produced by Diversity Arts Incubation Programme (DAIP) led by Pauline Catlin-Reid.
