The International Olympic Commission departed London late on Sunday afternoon after a comprehensive four-day inspection of the capital’s venues and plans to host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
London 2012 Bid Leader, Lord Sebastian Coe, promised that the Olympic Games would be hosted in London for the benefit of the next generation of athletes and the Olympic Movement.
The London 2012 Olympic Games would also regenerate one of the poorest parts of London and demonstrate the power of the Olympic Movement to transform people’s lives through sport.
“In our success lies promise; promise of a renewed nation through sport, a renewed (Olympic) movement through London; a soaring human spirit,” Coe said in his closing remarks to the IOC’s Evaluation Commission.
Coe promised the IOC Commission that London would also deliver the greatest Olympic Games ever.
“We will not disappoint you. We will not let you down,” he told Commission members.
Highlights of the IOC Commission’s visit to London included:
– Visits to London’s world familiar landmarks and venues which will be used to showcase Olympic sports and athletes, including the new Wembley Stadium; Wimbledon; Lord’s Cricket Ground; Hyde Park; Horse Guard’s Parade; the Millennium Dome, among others.
– Visit to the East London construction site which will house a new Olympic Village, Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and other sporting facilities in an Olympic Park, generating thousands of new jobs, affordable housing and much needed new sporting facilities in one of the United Kingdom’s most disadvantaged districts and enabling London to host major international sporting events for decades to come.
– Journey through the Cross Tunnel Rail Link that will help to transport spectators and visitors from central London to the East London Olympic Park on the high speed Olympic Javelin shuttle service in just seven minutes.
Other highlights included a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Cabinet Ministers and Buckingham Palace Reception with The Queen and members of the Royal Family.
Planning and funding approval and guarantees secured for London’s proposed the new Olympic Park, which will be connected to an unprecedented 10 rail and tube lines, nine of which already exist, were also presented to the IOC Commission.
London’s capacity as a global youth destination to inspire the next generation of young people to participate in Olympic sports and embrace Olympism was also highlighted.
After leaving London, the IOC Evaluation Commission will travel to New York for a similar series of presentations and visits.
The Commission is expected to present its formal findings in relation to London and the four other Candidate Cities about a month before the IOC votes for the 2012 Olympic host city on July 6.
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