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Future Olympic Cities Report To IOC

Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 all made presentations to the International Olympic Committee Thursday, a day before the 2006 Winter Olympic Games begins.

Beijing 2008 President Liu Qi said in his presentation that BOCOG’s work will focus on six areas to meet the needs of Games-time operations.

Highlights of the Beijing 2008 presentation include speeding up construction of competition venues and related infrastructure facilities; with the direct participation of local governments the first-phase work of venue operations will begin; BOCOG will strengthen links with international sport federations and national (regional) Olympic committees; BOCOG will intensify preparations for the Olympic Torch Relay and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and will continue to provide “thorough service for the media”; BOCOG will make “serious” preparations for three international competitions – the World Female Softball Championship and World Junior Track and Field Championships in Beijing, and the World Sailing Championships in Qingdao. Finally BOCOG will “beef” up the work of security and transport.

Vancouver 2010’s progress report to the IOC centred on several major themes – venue construction, partnerships, transportation infrastructure, accommodations, marketing and the Own the Podium – 2010 Program.

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong introduced VANOC’s six strategic objectives to the IOC which will guide the Organizing Committee’s activities and decisions over the next four years.

Furlong also outlined the challenges that lie ahead in 2006, including gaining a thorough understanding of the Turin 2006 post-event, maintaining construction momentum and cost management on the venue program, engaging new marketing partners, building enhanced partnerships with international sport federations and national Olympic Committees, and building the VANOC team.

In preparation for the 2010 Winter Games VANOC has an observer team in Turin as part of the IOC’s observer program for future Games Hosts and Bid Cities.

VANOC will participate in 40 observer tours produced by the IOC and TOROC with the goal of gaining knowledge in 80 Olympic functional areas including sport operations, accommodation, venue development, transportation, technology, volunteer management, ceremonies and torch relay.

London 2012’s progress report highlighted the wide range of appointments and activities undertaken by London 2012 organizers since winning the bid, including establishment and recruitment of senior staff and executives for LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) which will build venues and infrastructure for the Games. The update included changes to enhance the layout, operation, construction times and community legacy of the Olympic Park site, centrepiece of the London Games where several key venues including the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Olympic Village will be located.

Key short term priorities were outlined – signing the joint marketing plan and developing the overall marketing and sponsorship program; creating the brand identity; working closely with International Federations in developing venue and infrastructure specifications; preliminary planning of the key components of their environmental, transport, technology and Paralympic plans; putting in place the ODA Board and its senior management team; testing and validating plans for the Olympic Park; completing the acquisition of land for the Olympic Park; and putting in place the procurement strategy for the construction of venues and infrastructure.

Meanwhile it was announced Thursday that criminals doing forced labour will help to build London 2012’s Olympic stadium. Home Secretary Charles Clarke said he wanted a massive expansion in the number of offenders forced to work in the community instead of going to jail. A Home Office spokesman said, “we hope this will include an important contribution towards the work necessary to prepare for the Olympic Games”.

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