Following a PA report that London 2012 has hired MI Associates to prepare London’s candidate file for the International Olympic Committee, Michael Pirri, spokesman for London 2012 told GamesBids.com that the company’s head Jim Sloman, “will help us to take the achievements and spirit of the Sydney Olympic Games to new levels in the London bid”.
He said that having Sloman on board as the man who helped to deliver the Sydney Games will also help to reinforce London’s credentials as the bid that can deliver the best venues, services and facilities for the athletes, Olympic Family, media and spectators in 2012.
Although there was speculation in the PA report that a second athletes’ village outside London could be scrapped and a question mark about the number of events planned for outside Greater London, Pirri told GamesBids.com. Sloman believes that plans to co-locate new sporting venues and facilities in the compact Lower Lea Valley in the East End of London – seven minutes by rail from central London – will be a major advantage to London’s bid.
There are also plans to use extensive existing infrastructure including London’s world famous venues such as Wimbledon, Lord’s and the New Wembley, Hyde Park, and Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace.
Meanwhile, at Buckingham Palace Wednesday the Queen will be hosting a special reception to thank London’s 2012 bid team.
The delegation will include the bid’s leader Lord Coe, chief executive Keith Mills and vice chairman Barbara Cassani, the former head of London’s bid.
A London 2012 spokesman said, “the reception has been organized to say thank you to those involved in the London 2012 Olympic bid. The event is also to wish the team and its supporters and ambassadors good luck for the remainder of the campaign”.
