Tonight:
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- Countdown: Billions will be watching Coe’s flame roar to life
- Venue: Giant Twenty20 cricket ground stadium
- Gallery: How the Olympic Park will look
- Hopefuls: The Standard’s young athletes to watch
- Sprinters: Fast guide to the London 2012 Games
- Boris Johnson: The 2012 Games will bring hope, then euphoria
- Poll: 64% of Londoners support Olympics - do you?
London today began the three-year countdown to the Olympics with promises that the capital will stage the most memorable Games in history.
The Games will begin at precisely 20:12 on 27 July 2012 and organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe said London was ready to do Britain proud with “the greatest event on earth”.
Mayor Boris Johnson, meanwhile, called for 12,000 extra volunteers to be “London's frontline ambassadors”.
Organisers today published a new timetable of commitments for building work, promising that by this time next year the structure and roof of the Olympic stadium will be completed, with the first of the 80,000 seats in place. They believe such deadlines are essential to maintain public support and to measure performance against the £9.3 billion of taxpayer support for the Games.
The Olympic Park's other “big ticket” items — the aquatics centre and cycling velodrome — will also be structurally complete within the year, with space for each of the three pools dug out.
A majority of the flats in the Olympic village, which will house 17,000 athletes, will be completed and work will be under way on all the promised improved transport connections.
This follows previous deadlines to clear the former industrial site in Stratford and start building the new venues.
John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: “The milestones are challenging as we are working to a very tight schedule, but it is important that we are transparent and accountable for the significant public investment in the project. In this way the public can judge progress for themselves.”
Lord Coe and Mr Johnson this morning boarded the first Olympic Javelin train from King's Cross, being whisked to Stratford in seven minutes with passengers including new world diving champion Tom Daley and Olympics minister Tessa Jowell.
Lord Coe said: “In exactly three years, London and the whole of the UK will be getting ready to stage the greatest event on earth and we will not disappoint. There is a sense of excitement building and a genuine sense of belief that the Games will be a source of intense national pride and the benefits will be felt for generations to come.”
Construction work on the stadium is three to four months ahead of schedule, while work is progressing on the velodrome and on building the roof on the aquatics centre.
The construction project remains within the enlarged £9.3 billion budget, while a further £530 million in private sponsorship has been raised by Lord Coe's organisation to cover the cost of staging the Games. “We are a little bit further ahead of bang on target,” said Lord Coe. “We have raised more money than any other host city and we are further down the road with our construction and detailed planning.”
He added: “I broke 13 world records during my career, and I don't intend to break a fourteenth by being the chairman of an organisation that doesn't deliver the Games on time.”
The Mayor today called for 12,000 volunteers, in addition to the 70,000 needed to help at the Games, to provide a friendly welcome to visitors and help them get around the capital.
Mr Johnson said: “This role is vital, because these volunteers will be London's front line ambassadors.”
Reader views (42)
I've no doubt the event will be great, but the big issue and point behind it, that of enthusing people for sport will hit a big brick wall. Most sports do not have the facilities available at a local level to allow people to take up the sport. It's ironic that Tom Daley is pictured, as diving, though it will get a very necessary facility, will actually lose out in the long run and will have lost facilities at a local level following the games.
After Tom won the world championships and people actually saw diving on TV I had, as CEO of the G B Diving Federation, a number of e-mails from people across the country asking for guidance on where their children could learn to diving and emulate Tom. The answer in all cases was nowhere within reasonable travelling distance!!
The Olympics will certainly create a demand, but we will not be in a position to take advantage of it and the end result will be disapointment.
- John Whitby, Peterborough, cambs, 05/08/2009 17:35
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He's hardly going to say "Nah,its all a waste of time and importantly money"...
I do like watching SOME of the events in the Olympics like swimming and athletics but we as a country are not really interested in many of sports within the games mainly because we don't have a team in them of any note.
I respect people who play such sports and wish them well to keep fit but rowing and sailing for example are very expensive for the average person...compared to football and cricket (now I actually don't think sports like the former should be in the games as its not the top event in that sport clearly)
Like many I will probably watch and be happy when Team GB collect medals but probably not play any more sports than I do now (swimming,football and bit of cricket)
At least it seems the Olympics might well be on the time which is a positive.
- Mark, Watford, 04/08/2009 16:56
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You should do alright then Squeaky!
- Steve, Brentford, 03/08/2009 11:04
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Count me in, i'm available. Cannot wait. happy to do anything to be part of it, it's gonna be an event our country will be proud to host and i'll be happy to be part of it.
Roll on the olympics
- Marc, brighton, uk, 29/07/2009 01:41
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If the government were truly interested in the HEALTH of the nation as opposed to winning a few medals to show how "great" we are, then increase taxes on unhealthy foods, cheap booze and ciggies, add a packaging tax onto fast food boxes seen littering the streets, encourage proper fitness regimes in all schools, and give fruit and veg VOUCHERS instead of cash benefits to the families with poverty of care.
The idea that these games will motivate the great obese masses to get out and get fit through sport is laughable, a few might, but most will be motivated to cheer on their country whilst watching on TV, mouths stuffed full of crisps and beer, or, at best, go out and buy computer golf or volleyball and end up with repetitive strain injury of the wrist!
Don`t try to con the taxpayer by confusing sporting "celebrity wanabees" with the general education for the health of the nation.
- Darius, London UK, 28/07/2009 07:42
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I shall be attending because it will be fantastic.
In Sydney everyone whinged and moaned but when it started the whinging evaporated instantly and a great time was had by most. It doesn't cost much, just a city companies bonuses for the year which your taxes pay anyway.
As part of this countdown I offer my tips for gold in the following events:
Transport Inadequacy - Great Britain (Leaves on the line has never been beaten)
"Where have our athletes disappeared to?" - Somalia (again)
Olympic Miseryguts - BA again (refusing pole vaulters poles as hand baggage)
Largest population for smallest number of competitors - India
Worst TV only showing their own athletes - Australia
Worst commentators having zero knowledge of the sport being commented on - Australia
And a special "Bonnie Langford cringing, cliched iconography in the opening ceremony award" - Beef Eaters
I can't wait
- The Real Mr Pastry, Brisbane, 28/07/2009 04:26
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One look at the politically-correct Olympic 2012 logo, which looks like a pavement pizza and is deliberately devoid of anything identifiably British, tells all that you need to know about the flavour of London's Olympics.
The only saving grace is that there must be a general election between now and 2012, so there may be a chance to drag it back from the brink of mediocrity.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 28/07/2009 01:13
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'Stratford is relatively cheap because there was nothing much to remove. mainly businesses that opened up in the area once they knew it would be compulsorarily purchased'(BJ)
Complete rubbish, BJ: more than 3000 jobs were lost when firms were evicted from the area. Many have still not been compensated for their loss. Lord Coe has made it clear that these firms will see no part of the profit that the sale of the land will bring.
12,000 mugs are expected to offer their services free, while the insiders fill their boots: it's the British way, these days.
- Mdj E10, london uk, 27/07/2009 23:31
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The people who complain about the Olympics - see below - are a bunch of whingers. They are probably the people who are bitter at being the kids that got picked last for teams at PE when they went to school and are now concerned that they won't be able to get their white vans through traffic for two weeks in 2012. They are symptomatic of everything that is wrong with this country: a "can't do", "don't believe it's possible", "waste of time" attitude. If the Olympics inspires a generation of London kids to get off their backsides and do some sport it will be worth it and it will save the NHS money later on, because unlike these negative whingers they will be healthier, happier, more positive and less committed to a life of mediocrity.
- James, London, 27/07/2009 18:23
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I am from London and I do not need more Nu Labor taxes.
- Georgie, Islington, London, 27/07/2009 18:20
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I think everyone who was born in London and whose birthday falls during the games should be given a free ticket on their birthday! After all it only represents the lions share!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 27/07/2009 18:05
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WEVE WON A GOLD MEDAL ALREADY IN HERE THE WORLD MOANING CHAMPIONSHIP WHAT A LOT MOSTLY OF SAD PEOPLE I THINK ITS BRILLIANT WILL GIVE B ISLES A LIFT WISH ALL THE WINGERS WOULD LEAVE THIS COUNTRY THERES NO ONE FORCING ANYONE TO LIVE HERE PERSONALY I LOVE B ISLES.
- C May, BROMLEY, 27/07/2009 17:52
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No doubt they will be the most expensive on earth also.
Thanks Coe and the rest of the money grabbers for lumbering us ax payers with another 30+ year debt.
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain, 27/07/2009 17:46
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I'm baffled by the whole bunch! All that money and preparation for an under twenty day event. I'm not impressed! When Blair and gang opened our frontiers to Europe, there wasn't a dot of preparation. Masses of EU babies are born here, go to school here and have all services here and because the non government realise that our resources are being sucked up, they want to Tax us for getting older. Get real! Give Britain a say!
- Maria, London, 27/07/2009 16:47
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The next years should be a time for cutting our cloth to suit our much poorer circumstances This waste of money will take place whilst massive spending cuts affect the rest of us. Gordon Brown could win a few votes by handing the whole thing back to the IOC.
- Trevor, Islington, London, UK, 27/07/2009 16:46
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It's a safe bet to say that all those in favour of this debacle aren't paying towards it in their taxes!
- Steve, London, 27/07/2009 16:30
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OK reality check...
Lord Coe £285k + expenses + performance related pay per annum
Ernst & Young accountants £2440 per day
Princess Ann £1000 per meeting
Jonathan Edwards £87k for consultancy services
Olympic Delivery Authority Board Members £1000 per meeting
9.3 Billion PLUS total cost
A select elite will get very rich indeed pocketing our money
- Simon, London, 27/07/2009 16:09
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Mr Pastry, I'll go along with you 100% plus my own bit to add:
When the Olympics were being "sold" to Londoners, it promised jobs for local people - well that's a bloody lie, all foreigners working there.
As for the crime - they are moving all the criminal element out, to Outer London Boroughs - so thanks for that.
As for public transport - thank God I'll be retired by then as you cannot get onto a train at Stratford as it is now, let alone with the expected visitors.
- Mrs, London UK, 27/07/2009 15:51
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And of course old Coey and his cronies are getting rich!
- Stephen, welwyn garden city, 27/07/2009 15:24
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Pete, SURREY
Don`t confuse negativity with new reality.
Don`t confuse the hype of interested parties,"Olympians" the government AND the media with pretence of enthusiasm of the taxpaying majority for this massive waste of public resources.
If we had a democratic poll, the verdict would be - SCRAP IT.
- Darius Midwinter, London UK, 27/07/2009 15:21
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It's a shame that there isn't an Olympic Whining event, we have quite a few potential Gold winners here!
- Carl, London, 27/07/2009 15:07
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In response to all the people who's glass is always half full. Lets just say we have a lot to moan about. I for one would love to see a happy games with lots of smiley faces everywhere. It would be a huge tonic for London.
I am sure that the customer service teams at the games will have their work cut out to protect the tourists from being ripped off, but in general they will please a lot of people. In Austria last year during the European football championships, everyone in Vienna travelled free on buses, trams and the metro for 2 weeks while the games were on. Could TFL come up with something similar for London or will they be one of the culprits in the rip-off department
- Mr S.Port, London, 27/07/2009 15:03
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Richard, London
Do you not know Stratford is a cesspit?
- Steve, London, 27/07/2009 14:37
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Thank God that Gordon Brown will be back in gloomy Fife, scribbling down his fantasy-inspired memoirs and holding court at an odd looking gathering of haggis munchers as London basks in the glory of the 2012 Olympics.
- Ted, London, 27/07/2009 13:37
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WHO BLOODY WELL CARES ABOUT THE OLYMPICS ANYMORE.
I don't care a single fig for the olympics anymore. What a collosal waste of money, better spent on more helicopters for our troops,more kidney/heart transplants for children,more hospice care, more police etc.
WAKE UP BRITAIN AND LOOK AT THE COST
MR (VOICE OF REASON) PASTRY
- Mr Pastry, london england, 27/07/2009 13:35
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Did you hear that everyone? I think Pete from Camberley was ofering to pay extra on his council tax bill for this debacle like everyone living in London, that's how keen he is on it.
- Bob, Cheam, 27/07/2009 13:33
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Tim, London.
Stratford is relatively cheap because there was nothing much to remove. mainly businesses that opened up in the area once they knew it would be compulsorarily purchased.
As for crime it will be a monumental example of what the police can do when unrestrained by wet lefties. THERE WILL BE NO CRIME.
- Bj, London, 27/07/2009 13:28
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judging by some of the comments here it's no wonder Britain is no longer Great! With this pervasive culture of whingeing and moaning it's no shock for young people hard work, innovation, inventiveness and the urge to achieve and succeed are in terminal decline with this bunch of doom-mongering whiners standing on the sidelines willing all our efforts to fail.
- Chris, London, 27/07/2009 13:14
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Blimey, the vampires of negativity are out again, what a miserable bunch of wingers you are.
This is the best thing that that to have happened to London (and particularly the east end) for generations. Its going to happen on time, it will give the area a boost that it needs and it will improve transport in a largely neglected area.
Stop moaning and start supporting it.
- Pete, Camberley, Surrey, 27/07/2009 12:35
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Whats going on, news about the The Olympics and its not about how much. I like the 'ahead of schedule' its better than the alternative.
It will be a lovely 2 weeks when it arrives, my only grumble is the roads are a mess getting to Stratford, and with no new roads planned and no existing ones paved,widened,extended or repaired, the people who live and those intending to move to the area can look forward to traffic gridlock for many years to come.
Oh i forgot its supposed to be a green games !!
- Mr S.Port, London, 27/07/2009 12:34
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Once again Marianne of SW France/London shows she has no grip on reality.... Does she even know where the Olympic site is? Does she not know that Stratford is one of the best connected areas by public transport in London? Has she not read and understood that the construction is ahead of schedule??
- Richard, London, 27/07/2009 12:21
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I wish I could believe they are that far advanced with the stadium in the picture however like Beijing a lot of the Olympics is faked, and I wouldn't put it past Coe and his buddies to computer generate a lot of these press releases. London is not the right place to hold a glorified sports day.
- Bruce, London, 27/07/2009 12:11
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It will be memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.
- P Staker, London, 27/07/2009 12:02
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What a bunch of miserable killjoys. They may want to sit at home festering whilst watching yet another episode of East Enders, but the Olympics should bring a real bounce to the economy and society as a whole. Bring it on.
- Nick, London, 27/07/2009 12:00
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The olympic committee are refusing to publish the results of an investigation by KPMG forensic auditors into the "disappearance" of £100 MILLION from the olympic purse. As it is tax payers' who are being made pay for this debacle we have a right to know if there has been misappropriation of our money.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 27/07/2009 11:54
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It will be memorable all right. The buildings won't be finished on time, London will grind to a halt when the tube drivers go on strike and people like me will be paying for this fiasco for decades to come. What a complete and utter waste of money.
- Shirley, London, 27/07/2009 11:48
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Oh they'll be memorable alright: first Olympic site not to be completed, first Olympic site with no public transport links, first Olympic games NOT to begin at precisely 20.12 on 27th July ... need I go on?
... and just to be clear: 1 in 5 people saying they want to volunteer to help means that 4 in 5 (80%) have absolutely NO interest!
- Marianne, SW France/London, 27/07/2009 11:22
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Time to lobby non - labour MP`s on a total rethink on whether we, the people want to subsidise Coe`s gravy train.
If we spent a tenth of the money lavished on the olympics and it’s parasitic entourage for health and exercise in schools (the only arena where kids can’t opt out), then we might see some improvement in the future.
The con that is the idea that olympics = more enthusiasm for fitness is not proven - most will sit cheering in front of a screen, mouths crammed full of fast food!
And incidentally - don’t advertise medal winners as "Olympians" - Olympians were Greek gods who resided on mount Olympus, so speaking as an atheist, God knows what Zeus would have made of it all!
- Darius Midwinter, London UK, 27/07/2009 10:57
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I'll make sure to note the date in my electronic diary, so that when the time comes, I can book a long hoiday abroad and avoid this meaningless circus as much as possible.
- Cally G, Essex, UK, 27/07/2009 10:41
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"An Evening Standard poll has found that Londoners are resoundingly behind the Games"
Really? When you say Londoner's do you mean actual Londoners or do you mean Tessa Jowell?
- Bob, Cheam, 27/07/2009 10:29
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Is Stratford really the best place to show off London during the Games? The place is a crime riddled dump and I have no idea why they chose that place to build the stadium.
- Tim, London, 27/07/2009 10:16
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Can I have my money back?
You wait until a year to go; costs will spiral even further as the builders start a go slow in an attempt to obtain lucrative overtime rates.
The people in charge haven't got a clue.
- Mark, South-East London, 27/07/2009 09:44
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