Former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Nelson Mandela has endorsed London as the city to host the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, citing the diversity of London’s communities as providing the ideal setting for the Olympic Games.
Mandela said, “there is no city like London. It is a wonderfully diverse and open city providing a home to hundreds of different nationalities from all over the world. I can’t think of a better place than London to hold an event that unites the world”.
He added in a statement released Wednesday that Olympic Games in London would demonstrate the power of the Olympic Movement to change people’s lives, and said “the Games in London will inspire athletes as well as young people around the world to ensure that the Olympic Games remain the dream for future generations.
“London would offer something very special to the Olympic Movement, including great new sporting facilities and a legacy for generations to come”.
Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, told a press conference at the UK Trade and Investment offices in Johannesburg, “it is an honour to have such a respected international figure supporting our 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid”.
And London 2012 bid chairman Sebastian Coe said that Nelson Mandela’s support would inspire London and the United Kingdom to work closely with the international community to deliver the best ever Olympic Games if London is selected by the IOC.
