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Greens ask 2012 VIPs to steer clear of free cars
Matthew Beard, Evening Standard25 Mar 2008
Hundreds of VIPs at the London Olympics are being urged to contribute to the "greenest Games ever" by shunning a free car service.
Green campaigners have asked dignitaries from the 200-plus participating nations and 110 members of the International Olympic Committee to use public transport instead.
Earlier this month it emerged the IOC had requested a fleet of more than 3,000 chauffeur-driven cars to be used on a network of dedicated Olympic lanes. None of the 10,500 athletes will be able to use them, while the public are being urged to take trains or the Tube to venues.
Jenny Jones, a Green member of the London Assembly who wrote to the VIPs, said: "London is being billed as a pubic transport Games and the majority will have little choice. Vast sums have been invested and I don't see why it's not good enough for the VIPs. I would like to see it being used by everyone, including the IOC president. During the bid much was made of the good Tube links from where the VIPs are staying to the Olympic Park."
By appealing directly to IOC members and the national Olympic committees, the Greens are likely to dismay the Games organisers.
The organising committee, Locog, is seeking a £50million-plus deal with a car manufacturer to become a " tierone" sponsor of the 2012 Games.
The sponsor would be required to provide thousands of cars, coaches, golf buggies and lorries. Locog is thought to have held talks with Daimler Chrysler and Volkswagen, the official car maker of the Beijing Games.
London 2012 wants the vehicles to be as fuel efficient as possible and has pledged that average emissions will be 120g of carbon dioxide per kilometre or less compared with the average for new cars of 160g/km.
A spokeswoman for Locog said: "The figure of 3,000 cars in our transport plan is the absolute maximum."
Reader views (1)
Members of the national Olympics committees show the same enthusiasm for the gravy train as Conway MP and this appeal will be ignored.
- Peter Robinson, Audierne, France, 25/03/2008 13:47
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