Olympics 2012
BBC SPORT
6 Jul 2005
Why London won the Olympics
By Francis Keogh and Andrew Fraser
London has dramatically beaten four rival cities to win the right to stage the Olympic Games in 2012.
Paris were long considered favourites, while Madrid, Moscow and New York also submitted bids.
But after an exhaustive two-year search to find the hosts, London won the hearts of International Olympic Committee members.
So what was it that brought the Games back to the UK for the first time since 1948?
THE COE FACTOR
Olympic legend Lord Coe provided a champion's touch and just the shot in the arm London needed after a slow start under original bid leader, American Barbara Cassani.
Coe, plain Sebastian when he claimed double Olympic 1500m gold in 1980 and 1984, expertly combined his athletics experience with political nous.
He was quick to address perceived bid weaknesses like London's creaking transport system.
Coe's team was commended by Olympic inspectors for a "very high quality" bid book, having being third of the five bidding cities a year earlier.
He travelled tirelessly, used his political experience well and his background and profile helped convince IOC members London should get their vote.
With the destiny of the Games on a knife-edge, and dark horses Madrid emerging as genuine contenders alongside favourites Paris, Coe delivered the coup de grace - his passionate final plea to the voters in Singapore.
While the French capital's final presentation was steady and Madrid evoked a sunny outlook, Coe turned to youth and his belief in the Olympic ideal.
London was allowed 100 representatives in the voting hall, and in a bold move, bid leaders made sure 30 of them were young people from the capital.
They were introduced to the audience as Coe drew on personal experience to speak of the Olympic movement's ability to inspire.
It was inspired all round.
............
London's surprised victory shows one thing - we're all concerned about the young people. We want to inspire them, we want them to achieve their full potential.
From this episode Singapore government should understand that inspiring people is the best strategy to win. To bring Singapore to the next level of progress it should try firing the spirit of the people rather than to artifically importing "buzz" to the city state.
6 Jul 2005
Why London won the Olympics
By Francis Keogh and Andrew Fraser
London has dramatically beaten four rival cities to win the right to stage the Olympic Games in 2012.
Paris were long considered favourites, while Madrid, Moscow and New York also submitted bids.
But after an exhaustive two-year search to find the hosts, London won the hearts of International Olympic Committee members.
So what was it that brought the Games back to the UK for the first time since 1948?
THE COE FACTOR
Olympic legend Lord Coe provided a champion's touch and just the shot in the arm London needed after a slow start under original bid leader, American Barbara Cassani.
Coe, plain Sebastian when he claimed double Olympic 1500m gold in 1980 and 1984, expertly combined his athletics experience with political nous.
He was quick to address perceived bid weaknesses like London's creaking transport system.
Coe's team was commended by Olympic inspectors for a "very high quality" bid book, having being third of the five bidding cities a year earlier.
He travelled tirelessly, used his political experience well and his background and profile helped convince IOC members London should get their vote.
With the destiny of the Games on a knife-edge, and dark horses Madrid emerging as genuine contenders alongside favourites Paris, Coe delivered the coup de grace - his passionate final plea to the voters in Singapore.
While the French capital's final presentation was steady and Madrid evoked a sunny outlook, Coe turned to youth and his belief in the Olympic ideal.
London was allowed 100 representatives in the voting hall, and in a bold move, bid leaders made sure 30 of them were young people from the capital.
They were introduced to the audience as Coe drew on personal experience to speak of the Olympic movement's ability to inspire.
It was inspired all round.
............
London's surprised victory shows one thing - we're all concerned about the young people. We want to inspire them, we want them to achieve their full potential.
From this episode Singapore government should understand that inspiring people is the best strategy to win. To bring Singapore to the next level of progress it should try firing the spirit of the people rather than to artifically importing "buzz" to the city state.
posted by locky2ky at 8:45 PM
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