Olympics: IOC chief impressed with London

LONDON:

International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Jacques Rogge has put London 2012’s readiness for the Games on a par with Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008.

The Belgian visited London’s Olympic sites on a day of festivities to mark one year until the opening ceremony. “You can’t compare cities,” said Rogge. “Regarding operation readiness, I’d put it on par with Sydney and Beijing.”

Rogge was particularly impressed with the Aquatics Centre, describing the arena as ‘a masterpiece’. He also praised the organisers for finishing the last of the six main permanent Olympic Park venues 12 months ahead of the opening ceremony. But he urged the chief organiser Lord Sebastian Coe to be wary of complacency.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th,  2011.