London 2012 an urban project too
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Just over two years ago I had the honor of representing London at the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I was bowled over by the stunning show Beijing put on for the watching world.
The sport was absolutely fantastic, the Games themselves were superbly organized, the closing ceremony was breathtaking and the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) was awesome. It seems unbelievable that in less than two years, London will be in the global spotlight as the world's greatest athletes compete at the world's greatest sporting event in London.
When the people of Beijing look back at that incredible period, they can see how their Games delivered major improvements to the transport network along with new public and community facilities springing up across the city, while at the same time bringing Beijing and China to the attention of millions of people worldwide.
I am also determined to see that the London 2012 Games leave a lasting legacy for our city - and we already have much to be proud of. Our plans are on schedule and on budget and in some cases even under budget. Earlier this week, I witnessed the huge floodlights in London's Olympic Stadium being switched on for the first time.
What's more, I recently opened the state-of-the-art Energy Centre at the Olympic Park, which will not only help reduce carbon emissions of the Park, but also raise new standards of sustainability in the United Kingdom. Within the Park, construction has begun on the ArcelorMittal Orbit - London's newest major landmark. The sculpture was designed by award winning artist Anish Kapoor in collaboration with one of the world's leading structural designers, Cecil Balmond, and will become a major iconic attraction to rival to the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
Meanwhile, the East London Tech City will place London at the forefront of the high-tech revolution and bequeath to London a vibrant new business quarter in the east of our city - the list goes on, and all of these developments go to show just how wide-ranging the legacy for London will be following the Games.
The sporting legacy itself is already visible. Our stadium is fast nearing completion, as are our other venues such as the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome. In fact, our first 2012 venue, the white water center in the county of Hertfordshire, was opened last week. The majority of the venues and facilities will be ready to hand over to our organizing committee in 2011, a year ahead of the London Games.
If the International Olympic Committee wanted to bring the Games forward a year, we would be ready for it. We must not lose sight of our promise to deliver a genuine grassroots sporting legacy for all Londoners, and our Olympic and Paralympic Games have the potential to unlock real change in the way youngsters engage in sport.
