London 2012 Chief Hails Test Events; Athletes Unfazed by Riots

London 2012 Chief Hails Test Events

Despite traffic chaos during the road cycling test event, London 2012 CEO Paul Deighton says the 16 dress rehearsals so far for the Games have gone "extremely well".

Around 1,400 roads in central London and Surrey were closed Sunday for what was LOCOG’s biggest 2012 test event to date. But traffic congestion along the 140km route sparked anger among drivers, residents and businesses in the six London boroughs affected.

Deighton defended the transport planning for the London-Surrey Cycle Classic, telling BBC Radio on Wednesday that tens of thousands of people lined the route for an "absolutely spectacular" experience.

"An event of that scale will cause some disruption and I would like to thank all the people who put up with that short-term disruption," he said.

Asked whether Londoners would have to tolerate similar traffic chaos for the event at next year's Games, he said: "Our undertaking is that we will communicate very clearly and very widely about what is going to happen in 2012 so people can be part of it or organize themselves around it."

Deighton's comments came on day two ofthe basketball test event – the first sports competition to be held at London Olympic Park. Six national teams are taking part, including China, Great Britain and France.

On Friday, the 2012 BMX course gets a run-through.

Deighton underlined the importance of the London Prepares series of warm-up events for the Olympics.

"These test events are an absolutely critical part of getting everything right so it all works perfectly next year," he said.

U.S. Olympians Unfazed by Riots

Sprinter Allyson Felix, who is expected to be one of the top U.S. performers at the 2012 Olympics, said she isn’t worried about her safety in the wake of the recent rioting in London.

"I think just as a person you’re always concerned when anything goes on anywhere," she said during a USOC teleconference with reporters. "In that respect, your heart goes out to them and you want it to be peaceful. Competing there for myself, I’m not so concerned. I know the people organizing our stay over there and security will have everything in order, so I’m not overly concerned at all."

Sarah Groff, a U.S. triathlete who qualified for the Olympics while competing in the recent test event in London, said that even though she was there during some of the rioting, "We didn’t feel threatened at all. I definitely have faith that the Olympic organizers and USOC will do everything possible to ensure our safety. Let’s just hope everything gets resolved in Tottenham as soon as possible."

Adidas Exec Leaves London for Hong Kong

adidas’s Global Olympic Games director and head of London 2012 will leave the company next month.

Erica Kerner is taking up the newly created position of vice president of marketing for Polo Ralph Lauren in Asia Pacific and will be based in Hong Kong.

After joining adidas in 2004, Kerner was an integral part of the company’s presence and activation at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. She worked with Nike for 10 years before joining adidas.

Written by Mark Bisson, Karen Rosen and Ann Cantrell.