Summary
AFTER MONTHS of work, today is the day Lord Coe will present London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games to the International Olympic Committee. On this 300-page document, which will not be made public until Friday, rest the hopes of all those who were enthused by last summer's games. One of the galvanising effects of the Athens games was the realisation that if even so chaotic a city could overcome problems to stage a successful Olympics, then a major world city like London must surely be able to do even better.
That is not to underestimate the challenges facing the London bid. When the IOC announced its shortlist in May, it voiced a number of concerns about London's suitability. The biggest worry was transport, with the risk that London's creaking public transport system could be overwhelmed by tens of thousands of extra visitors. But the bid team have responded with proposals to re-phase traffic lights, introduce athletes-only road lanes and a bullet shuttle service from St Pancras to Stratford, as well as completing the East London Line extension and making improvements to the North London line. The IOC also had concerns about some of the venues, about security, and about the regeneration plans for the main area in Stratford. By and large, these appear to have been addressed by the bid team; the bid is also expected to set out additional funding proposals. But the IOC's other concern, and the most important one now remaining, is the level of public and political support.See the full content of this document
Extract
London Bids for Olympic Glory
Public support in the capital is growing as people become more aware of the kind of transport and regeneration benefits that could flow from a London...
See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
