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24 February 2006
Tessa Jowell Names Head Of New Olympic Lottery Distributor
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has appointed Janet Paraskeva, Chief Executive of the Law Society of England and Wales, to head the new Olympic Lottery Distributor (OLD).
The body's key role will be to ensure proper, timely and effective distribution of Lottery money to fund the provision of facilities, services and functions required for the staging of the 2012 London Olympic & Paralympic Games.
The OLD came into existence in July 2005, following London's success in being selected as 2012 host city, and has been operating since then with an Interim Board.
Janet Paraskeva will take over as Chair of the OLD on 1 March, serving a four year term. She will be joined by other board members, who will be appointed shortly.
Welcoming Janet Paraskeva to her new role, Tessa Jowell said:
"Janet, her board and staff will play an important role in distributing Olympic Lottery funding that, with London Council tax, will be the bedrock of the 2012 Games.
"The OLD will work closely with the Olympic Delivery Authority - which will be its main grant recipient - to ensure that Lottery monies raised for the Olympic good cause go straight to the projects at the heart of the London Games and provide real and continuing value for money.
"Earlier this month I helped launch the latest scratchcard game to help pay for the 2012 Olympic Games, with a Winter Olympic theme. Overall scratchcard sales to help fund the 2012 Games have so far raised more than £11 million since their introduction in July last year – but this is just the beginning.
"I am very grateful to the Interim Board for their important work in the OLD's start up phase."
Janet Paraskeva commented:
"I am delighted to have been given the responsibility of leading the Olympic Lottery Distributor. Ensuring the public's money reaches the projects and venues that the world will come to know during the next six years is one of the most important tasks in preparation for London 2012.
"I am looking forward to establishing a strong working relationship with Jack Lemley and David Higgins and their team at the Olympic Delivery Authority and ensuring that everyone who buys a lottery ticket knows their money is being well spent."
The Olympic Lottery Distributor's remit is to fund any facility, function or service it considers necessary or expedient for the delivery of the 2012 Olympic Games and will monitor grants to ensure they are spent effectively. It will be a lean organisation, operating with a core of essential staff.
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Notes for Editors
1. The appointment of Janet Paraskeva as Chair of the Olympic Lottery Distributor has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice.
2. The post is part time, circa two days per month, and attracts remuneration of £10,000 per annum.
3. Janet Paraskeva is Chief Executive of the Law Society of England and Wales. She is a former Director of the England National Lottery Charities Board (Community Fund) and a former member of the Youth Justice Board. Janet Paraskeva is also a Non-Executive Director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and an independent member of the Consumer Council for Water. In January 2006 she was appointed First Civil Service Commissioner.
4. The creation of the Olympic Lottery Distributor was provided for in the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 and the distributor was legally established by a Commencement Order which came into force on 8 July 2005. It has been operating since its establishment under an Interim Board. The Interim Board consists of Sir Andrew Foster as Chair, with Jill Barrow, David Ross and Huw Thomas.
5. All public appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity to be made public. Janet Paraskeva has not declared any political activity in the last five years.
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