BUSINESS, sport and cultural leaders from around the North-East did a high jump for joy when news of London's Olympic success was announced yesterday - and they had a lot to celebrate.

The community leaders gathered at the offices of One NorthEast in Newcastle were all agreed - the Olympics will have a major impact on this region.

Now bosses will get round the table, planning how they can grab a slice of the action in the run-up to the 2012 games.

The prize will not only mean a boon for sport here, but will also have significant economic impact and be a shot in the arm for the tourism and culture industries.

And it will provide an inspiration to the next generation of sports people.

One NorthEast chairwoman Margaret Fay said: "We will be working hand-in-hand with our strategic partners both here in the region and in London to ensure that the North-East reaps the benefits the games will deliver.

"This includes providing a framework in which regional companies will have the opportunity to compete for Olympic contracts and extending a warm welcome to the region for national and international visitors coming to watch the games."

Ms Fay added: "We must also realise that the country chosen to host the Olympics will get the opportunity to organise and host many other events leading up to the Olympics - this will help to build up the main event beforehand and also bring benefits for the region.

Yorkshire Forward chairman Terry Hodgkinson said the region would also be hosting training camps.

He said: "Our research has shown that we are set to gain £600m worth of economic benefits on the back of the Olympics."

SPORT

Newcastle United's St James' Park is one of six national venues that has been earmarked to stage the football.

The club's chief operating officer, Russell Cushing, said: "Everyone at Newcastle United is delighted with the announcement."

Another regional sports facilities - the Tees Barrage - could be a great venue as a water sports training camp.

Sunderland is looking forward to playing its part - with a 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool being built in the city.

Judith Rasmussen, regional director at Sport England North East: "London 2012 will deliver a tangible, long-lasting sporting legacy for the region.

"We will see this in terms of a greater uptake by people in sports and an increase in the number of clubs, coaches, volunteers and facilities to meet the need.

"North-Easterners have a real passion for sport and there are many talented people working hard towards ensuring that local sports stars will be winning medals and Olympic glory in 2012."

She added: "The key to success will be continuing our close working with our key strategic partners, such as Sport England, to identify the right opportunities and ensure the region is well-placed to attract these type of events."

SCHOOLS

Sport England North-East chairman Tim Cantle-Jones said: "We need to use the Olympic victory to provide an incentive and a platform to encourage more sports in schools.

"At the moment, the Government's national target is to have two hours of physical activity a week in schools - and as many as 50 per cent of the schools are achieving that. We in Sport England believe we should be looking at four hours a week."

The Olympics will also be an inspiration to a generation of young people.

He said: "We have a fantastic Olympic tradition in the North-East and can boast champions such as Steve Cram, Jonathan Edwards and Brendan Foster, and Tanni Grey-Thompson.

"Winning the Olympic bid will be an inspiration for children in the region. Our aspiration will be to get as many athletes from the region involved in the Olympics as we can."

BUSINESS

One NorthEast chief executive Alan Clarke said: "There is a plethora of goods and services required to stage an Olympic Games. They range from business services to transport, construction, merchandise, manufacturing and the media and creative industries.

"Additionally, people coming to the UK to experience the games will take advantage of the opportunity to head out and explore other parts of the country, including the North-East, to see other sights and activities connected to the games."

"A recent report by the organisers behind London 2012 identifies industries including hotels, visitor attractions, leisure and catering as those most likely to gain from the increase in tourism numbers.

"Others likely to benefit include farmers, bakers, fruit and vegetable suppliers, toiletry manufacturers, construction and IT.

"The region is at the forefront of emergent technologies and IT and computer systems. We could very well see some of this new technology being available by 2012 and having a real impact on the Olympic Games, reinforcing the region's global reputation for innovation and technological development."

Maggie Pavlou, the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) president and director of Newcastle-based Parkdean Holidays plc, said: "We are delighted that London has been awarded the games.

"Although a predominantly southern-based event, London 2012 will bring a tremendous feel-good factor to the entire UK. The Olympics will attract many thousands of visitors to these shores and the challenge is now on us to attract them and to show what a fantastic region this is.

"We fully expect our local businesses to tap in to the breadth of opportunities that will now be available from the major construction projects to the enormous tourism potential."

TOURISM

Olivia Grant OBE, chairwoman of Culture North-East, said: "We believe that the Olympics offer some fantastic opportunities for the North-East, and we will work to ensure this region plays a full part in the delivery of the greatest sporting and cultural event on earth.

"Culture North-East will now focus its efforts on delivering with partners an exciting cultural programme that complrments and enhances the games."

The games are also expected to provide a massive boost to tourism in the region.

Mr Cantle-Jones, who is also a One NorthEast board member, said: "The Olympics is a great showcase for the country. Because world attention will be focused here, it will provide a massive boost to tourism, from which North-East will benefit. Currently, tourism brings in an estimated £76bn a year into the country and this is expected to be boosted to £100bn."

LONG TERM

While inspiring young people to compete, it is also hoped the renewed focus on sport will encourage a shift in attitude to healthy activities.

This could lead to an improvement in general health in the North-East, addressing problems such as obesity and coronary heart disease.

The economic benefits of the games are expected to be lasting as well.

The Sydney Games had substantial economic benefits on the regional economy, with boosts in cities as far as Perth and Darwin, both of which are thousands of miles from Sydney - whereas Hadrian's Wall, Durham Cathedral and other key attractions in the North-East are only 300 miles from London.