Paris 2012, considered by many the frontrunner in the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, has suffered a setback after conceding that it cannot fulfil its stated plans for a new Olympic swimming complex, reports the London Times.
According to the newspaper four weeks ago Paris 2012 bid officials publicized plans for a five pool complex and said that the facility would be ready by 2007, following a previous statement last November that Paris was going to apply to host the 2009 World Swimming Championships.
But now the French swimming federation has announced that its pool will not be ready until 2011 and it its bid for the 2009 World Championships has been withdrawn.
A spokesman for Paris 2012 said Wednesday, “this does not affect us in any way because we never promised the swimming pool would be ready for 2009. We only ever said it would be ready for 2012”, which The Times said is a contradiction of the publicity from the launch of the proposed aquatic complex on January 13 that stated a 2007 completion date.
Construction on London’s aquatic complex, which includes two 50-metre pools and a diving hall, is scheduled to begin the end of this year to be completed in late 2008 or early 2009.
A Fina source told The Times “a city that can show it has its venues and pools in place is more likely to win Fina’s favour. It demonstrates commitment beyond the one Olympic event. It shows a place to where swimming can return for other events. To that extent, London is ahead”. Fina is the world swimming federation.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission will be inspecting Paris 2012 March 9 to 12.
