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Last updated: 6 march, 2012 - 15:42 GMT

Great Expectations: Parts one and two

In March 2010, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service visited Hackney, East London.

Just moments away from the site of the upcoming London 2012 Olympics, Hackney is in desperate need of regeneration.

Nina Robinson went to the estate to meet the people whose lives will be forever changed by the arrival of the biggest show on Earth.

How will the new Olympic Park impact on their lives? Will government promises over a better way of life come true?

What are their expectations of the Olympic Games?

Part One - Welcome to Hackney

The Velodrome being constructed

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"We never asked the rest of the world to come here, but seeing as you’re coming let’s make a party of it – involve us, just get us involved!"

This is a plea to the Olympic authorities from Darrell James, local resident and winner of the Thierry Henry award for his youth work.

In the build up to the games, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service will be regularly returning to the estate, to find out how the huge multi billion dollar investment and regeneration plans are affecting them.

Some, like Darrell, fear more crime and a widening gap between the rich and poor, or that they’ll be priced out of the area altogether.

But others, like 15-year-old Sintayeh from Ethiopia, think that the new facilities will give him better prospects.

Whether that be taking advantage of the better transport links, moving into new housing being built, or just reading from the brand new library.

Part Two - Dramatic changes

The Olympic development from the sky

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Hilary Wilgress who has two children.

She does not feel initiatives from the government really work for families like theirs.

Nina meets up again with Darrell James, who shows her the new investment at the nearby Dalston Junction train station.

Darrell says the change here is dramatic, more so than the development happening in the heart of the estate.

And we hear from local politicians and decision makers about the 'legacy' plan - what will happen when the Games are over?

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