» Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Olympics

The PMOS made a number of points. Tessa Jowell made clear her view, which was underlined by Lord Sebastian Coe, that this bid was winnable and that today’s Cabinet meeting had been designed to show the underlying support for the bid right across government. Lord Coe gave a very impressive presentation and underlined there would be a clear legacy for the UK as a whole if we won the bid. He (Lord Coe) reiterated that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK, and said he did not envisage this opportunity coming again for decades. The Prime Minister, responding to the presentation, praised the technical quality of the bid, which he believed was superior to that of others, but he underlined that the country, and London as a whole, had now to show it was passionately behind the bid in the coming weeks and months.

Asked for a quote from the Prime Minister, the PMOS said the technical quality of the bid spoke for itself. What would impress the Olympic Committee would be the passion of this country and London for the Olympic bid. He believed that that passion existed and the next few months would be the time for the country to show it really wanted the Olympics to come here in 2012. The Prime Minister believed the Olympic bid committee had done a very good job in bringing together the skills under the leadership of Lord Coe but that we must harness support for the bid right across the country. The bid would benefit the whole country. Lord Coe and his team would organise ways to help people show their enthusiasm for the bid.

Questioned on whether or not the London transport system could cope with the Olympics, the PMOS said that Lord Coe had been full of praise for the transport system and plans for it in terms of how it will be by 2012.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Search for related news

3 Comments »

  1. I’m please the olympic bid seems so winnable, but massively disappointed that, as with the 2004 olympics, there is unlikely to be any swimmers from Hackney (probably the whole of London) because of the abyssmal lack of swimming pools.

    Our children in Hackney are being deprived of a possible opportunity because of primivate facilities – where there indeed are any.

    Comment by Gail Bristow — 16 Sep 2004 on 7:20 pm | Link
  2. hang about, hang about here…! the london transport system can barely cope as it is, and travel all over the south east can be a nightmare on any given day. how can they be so blase about it, given it’s track record (no pun intended), and taking into account how ever many extra million people there will be at the olympics?! typical; prestige over practicalities – i can see it being a farce!

    Comment by PapaLazzzaru — 17 Sep 2004 on 10:37 am | Link
  3. Nobody needs to get wound up about the Olympics being hosted in London – it just isn’t going to happen.

    All the posturing and bidding is just going on because it is the done thing and anyone on the committee who seriously thinks that London is in with a chance shouldn’t be on the committee.

    Stupid isn’t it?

    Comment by Roger Huffadine — 17 Sep 2004 on 1:05 pm | Link

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