The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the London 2012 Games ended its three-day inspection tour Thursday of the city’s preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and delivered a positive endorsement of the work being carried out by London 2012 and its partners.
Chairman of the commission Denis Oswald said, “the commission has been greatly impressed by the quality and speed with which LOCOG and its partners have been able to progress since our last visit. The most visible element is obviously venue construction, and the progress made on the Olympic Park, in particular, is truly outstanding. In all the areas of preparation we have been able to see marked progress by the London 2012 team and this puts LOCOG on track to deliver great Games in 2012 and a great legacy beyond”.
During its visit the commission visited the Olympic Park site, Wembley Stadium, Horse Guards Parade and Hyde Park, all of which will host key Olympic venues.
The commission also participated in working groups and plenary sessions with LOCOG and its local partners from the government, the BOA and the ODA, which looked at the progress in a number of areas including Cultural Olympiad, venues and infrastructure, transport and the environment, as well as looking at services and experiences that different groups coming to the Games would look forward to, namely the athletes, media, spectators, International Federations and National Olympic Committees.
The commission also met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leader of the opposition David Cameron, Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell and London’s newly elected Mayor Boris Johnson, among others.
Oswald said, “the cross party support for the Games and the backing from the highest levels of Government in Great Britain is extremely reassuring”.
The commission approved moving Olympic Fencing, Wheelchair Fencing and Paralympic Judo to the ExCel venue in Docklands having been satisfied through the course of the meetings that the move ensures the 2012 Games makes the best use of London’s existing venues, and creates the opportunity to move the temporary basketball arena to the former site of the Fencing Hall in the Olympic Park, improving the layout of venues freeing up more space for spectators.
