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Tony Blair wants 2012 Olympics in London

Last updated on: May 10, 2005 14:19 IST

British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday underlined his commitment to delivering the 2012 Olympic Games to London.

British Prime Minister Tony BlairFour days after securing a third term in Britain's general election, Blair was central to a drive by London's bid team to outline the city's detailed planning and readiness to deliver the world's biggest sporting and cultural event.

"My commitment is total," Blair said in a London2012 brochure released on Monday. "I will do everything I can to deliver."

London is up against Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris in the race to win the right to stage the Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote for the host city on July 6 in Singapore.

London's bid team highlighted the deliverability of their plans based upon extensive use of existing venues and physical infrastructure and wide-ranging Games-related financial guarantees and planning approvals already in place.

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The bid team reiterated that more than 60 percent of London's 2012
venues already exist, including Wimbledon, The Dome, Greenwich Park and rowing venue Eton Dorney, which will host the Rowing World Cup in two weeks.

"Extensive use of London's existing venues and facilities such as ExCel, which will host six Olympic sports, will reduce the cost and complexity of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 without compromising the quality of the Games," said bid leader Sebastian Coe.

Development of three of the five new permanent facilities in London's Olympic Park -- Aquatic centre, Velopark and Hockey facility -- is moving ahead, London said, with just two facilities left to develop within the Olympic Park.

"Our plans are well advanced and our approach will ensure a sporting legacy for Britain, for international sport and for the Olympic movement," Coe said.

The bid team said that funding for the Games is in place and planning permission for the Olympic Park has been secured, with 80 percent of land under government or city authority control and procedures in place for acquiring the remaining land.

Ossian Shine
Source: REUTERS
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