Bubka Expresses Confidence in London 2012 Preparations, Legacy

(ATR) IAAF vice president Sergey Bubka says Sebastian Coe and his London 2012 team are doing "a great job" in preparing to host the Olympics this summer.

Bubka, who was in London for the Laureus World Sports Awards, spoke to members of the media Monday at the the London Hilton Park Lane Hotel, one of the official IOC hotels for the Games.

Praising LOCOG chairman Coe and his colleagues for their work on the Olympics this year, Bubka said the venues are "very unique". He will be visiting the Olympic Park again on Tuesday.

"It will be an amazing legacy and of course we very happy that 2017 [IAAF world athletics championships] will be part of the Olympics legacy now that the stadium will remain with the track – this is very good news for us," he added.

The Ukrainian IOC member, who also heads his country's National Olympic Committee, also dismissed concerns that have been raised about transportation and security in the English capital.

"I hear the main issue is security and transportation, but in a big city you need to take into consideration the travel. There’s a lot of thought gone into it and investment from government side – I am confident," Bubka told the media roundtable.

"We don’t have any points where we are afraid. For the athletes, the village is close to the Olympic Park – it’s really comfortable."

The Olympic pole vaulter underlined his faith in London’s public transport by confirming that he and his delegation heading to London 2012 – from the IAAF at least – would be travelling by train.

"I know that the IAAF family will use the trains; seven minutes [from central London on the Olympic Javelin train] for us we will go straight [to the Olympic Park]," he said.

"For me this is public transport that we will use.

"But we do need to take into consideration different locations of different hotels."

Ukraine Olympic Bid?

With the UEFA European football championships shedding a spotlight on the eastern European nation this summer,Bubka spoke of his country’s ambitions to host more major events in the future to help with regional infrastructural development.

He said the focus would be to bid for a Winter Olympics.

"We will look for Winter Games. Because in the western part we have the Carpathian Mountains and the Games could be a way of developing the region," he said. "Some parts of the mountains are developing already, but if we go for Olympics this will speed up and develop the region.

"This will give a lot of jobs because a lot of people from this area go elsewhere for jobs," he added before refusing to rule out that Ukraine may bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Bubka is scheduled to meet with London Mayor Boris Johnson on Tuesday after a meeting with the official England football supporters' association about Ukraine's Euro 2012 co-hosting role. He will then tour the 2012 Olympic Park.

Reported in London by Christian Radnedge

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