On the eve of London 2012’s “one year to go” celebrations, Games Chair Seb Coe spoke to the international media, at times reminiscing about London’s bid for the Games in 2005.
He spoke of his athletic achievements while competing in the Games and his proud involvement in the bid team but later said “the delivery of the Olympic Games I consider to have more of an impact around the world…”
Coe remarked “I’m proud to say that this is an extraordinary British achievement.
“We are fully on track and we are on schedule and are on budget.
“This is a project of infinite complexity.
“We’re in very good shape.
Then he added “that’s not to say we haven’t got a lot of hard work ahead of us.”
When pressed on the Olympic bid process, Coe offered some support and advice to hopeful applicants.
“The London Organizing Committee will always have its doors open…” he said, offering help for future bidders.
Coe said that it’s important to know why you are bidding and how you are bidding.
“When London won the right to stage the 2012 Games, we did it on the back of several serious commitments. One of them was to use the power of the Games to inspire change.
“We promised that the lives of 12 million young people would change through the power of sport, so a year out from the Games I am delighted to announce that we have fulfilled that pledge.”
Commenting on this month’s election of PyeongChang in South Korea to host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Coe offered further advice for future bidders.
“The Munich bid was a very strong bid and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) made a choice between two very strong bids [Munich and PyeongChang].”
A third bidder, Annecy in France, was also on the ballot but was considered an outsider in the race. PyeongChang campaigned on the theme “New Horizons” that stressed the importance of exposing Winter Sports to new markets; Munich believed it was time for the Olympics to return to its roots for a more authentic experience.
Coe continued “cities from the more mature nations do have to understand that there is a change in landscape,” alluding to recent IOC decisions to embrace new areas on the map including Rio de Janeiro for 2016 and PyeongChang.
On Wednesday, IOC President Jacques Rogge will be in London to participate in the celebrations and will formally invite the world to the Games. London 2012 is also expected to reveal the design of the medals that will be awarded at the Games.
Coe knows exactly how he wants the London 2012 Games to play out, he told reporters “I want the party atmosphere of Sydney; I want the spirit and the humanity of Barcelona; I want the way the city embraced the games like Vancouver; and the forensic eye for detail that we witnessed in Beijing.”
The Olympic Games will run next year from July 27 to August 12. The Paralympic Games will open August 29 and run until September 9.
