ODA begin to scale down press operation as Curry leaves

By Tom Degun

September 21 - Tom Curry, the former head of media at the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), has joined global supermarket chain Tesco where he has taken up the newly created role of UK communications director.

Curry joined the ODA from Weber Shandwick in 2006 shortly after the body responsible for ensuring the delivery of venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 was formed.

His departure comes after the ODA completed the Aquatics Centre in July this year - the last of the six main permanent Olympic Park venues to have construction finished on it.

"Tom and his team played a central role in communicating the successful delivery of the project from the cleaning and clearing of the Olympic Park through to the successful completion of the permanent venues a year before the Games," said an ODA spokesperson.

"We wish him well in his new role."

As Curry departs, the ODA director of communications Godric Smith has begun to split his time between the organisation and Government Olympic Executive (GOE).

The GOE is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and oversees the entire London 2012 project with Smith - the former official spokesperson for Tony Blair when he was Prime Minister - the director of communications at the Government organisation.

It is part of the scaling back of the ODA following the completion of the bulk of their work with a number of employees set to move across to the London 2012 Organising Committee to help with Games-time operations.

The ODA share a main office with London 2012 in London's Canary Wharf, which is a short distance away from the Olympic Park in Stratford.

The work of the ODA in constructing the Olympic venues on time and on budget has been widely praised by many senior figures including London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

"Everyone involved can be very proud of the progress of the Olympic Park as a whole," said Coe.

"I congratulate the ODA and their teams who have done a fantastic job."

Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt added: "The build project for London 2012 has been a huge success for the British construction industry, public sector and UK plc as a whole.

"The ODA and all those that have worked on the Olympic Park deserve huge credit for what they have achieved.

"The venues are stunning and the stage is now set for us to put on the greatest sporting show on earth."

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