Whether it’s for formal interpreting during official ceremonies, or just to say a few words of welcome to visitors as volunteer, languages are going to be crucial to the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As thousands of overseas visitors - and the world’s media - descend upon London, languages will help with everything from giving directions to solving a medical crisis. Tourist attractions and businesses have been urged to brush up on their language skills so that they can provide a better customer service at a time when the global spotlight will be turned on the UK.

Quick facts and figures

Where do languages fit in?

Professional linguists
Professional interpreters and translators are needed to ensure that the competition is staged efficiently, with respect for all the nations coming together. There is a need for multilingual signs, visitor information, public announcements, and interpretation facilities for teams, coaches, the media and the whole ‘Olympic family’, not only at the Olympics venues in London and elsewhere in the UK, but also around team training venues.

Other professionals
Many professionals working to support the Games will also need language skills, to overcome practical communication barriers they face in their day to day work. This will range from ticket sales to risk assessment, from caterers to lawyers. In London the police and security services, emergency and health services use languages skills already to help communication with the public.

Volunteers
The Games Volunteer Programme (to be launched in 2010) plans to use the language skills of London’s local communities as a strength to make visitors feel at home.
Read about Terry, a previous volunteer.

Building the infrastructure
There will be ‘hundreds, if not thousands’ of contracts, with opportunities for all businesses, who are being advised to ‘get into shape now’ in order to pitch successfully. Many will need to build a strategy for languages within their planning in order to succeed.

Tourism
The Games are expected to deliver a £2 billion boost to Britain’s international visitor economy. Games-related and Games-motivated tourism will mean over half a million extra visitors in London alone in 2012, but most of the growth will be achieved in the 4 years following the Games - if we can use the opportunity to upgrade the quality of service tourists receive. If we want the Games to leave the lasting legacy of a thriving, innovative tourism industry, one key change to make is to be able to communicate with people in their own language. The Sector Skills Council People 1st have already identified a demand for languages from their employers.

Customer service
GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport, is leading on customer service issues relating to the Games and has already conducted research showing the need for transport workers to possess language and cultural skills as well as other skills like health and safety awareness, crowd control and first aid. London Underground, which already serves a large multilingual customer base, is taking a keen interest in this, and starting to include languages in training and recruitment policies.

The arts and culture
Languages also have a role to play in the arts and in making the Games a truly global celebration. Music, dance and drama have the power to bridge cultures and make ideas in other languages accessible. We can share and celebrate the world’s cultures, with entertainment and educational and projects aimed at different age groups and audiences.