London on schedule to host memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games for athletes from Japan and all Games nations

The Chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, Lord Sebastian Coe, who is about to visit Tokyo, reports that London’s preparations to stage spectacular Games for the world’s best athletes, inspire young people and leave meaningful legacies for local and international communities are on schedule and on budget.

Olympic athletes from Japan and other nations will be showcased in internationally recognisable landmark London settings and iconic venues with famous backdrops, including Wimbledon (tennis), Wembley (football finals), Hyde Park (triathlon) and Buckingham Palace (marathon), as well as in new Olympic Park venues (athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, cycling, and other sports) and other locations, including east London, such as world heritage listed Greenwich Park (equestrian).

"We want to create a magical atmosphere and an electrifying experience for the athletes and spectators that inspires everyone, and distinguishes the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games from other sports events," Coe said.

"London is home to more than 200 communities and faith groups from around the world and will provide a truly international Games environment and experience for all athletes."

Coe said London was preparing a rich Games experience for the athletes, centred on:

• Sport that is compelling and inspiring, creating new heroes and role models to engage young people.

• Stadiums that will be new, iconic and atmospheric.

• Seats that will be full of passionate fans.

• Streets, public squares and Live Sites filled with Games celebrations, sport, art and culture events and activity.

• Service provided by friendly and informed volunteers.

• Sustainable and meaningful social, economic and sporting legacies that change lives and communities.

Coe will meet Japanese Olympic leaders, including Mr Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, during his visit to Tokyo and update Olympic officials on preparations for the London 2012 Games.

Coe will also meet with athletes at the National Training Centre preparing for the London 2012 Games, and speak with a group of Japanese students at a high school about the importance of sport in young people's lives and in wider society. The school is part of the organising committee’s "Get Set Goes Global" international Olympic and Paralympic education programme which links London 2012 to selected schools around the world.

Coe, who is a double Olympic gold and silver medallist and multiple world record holder, will also meet Tokyo Governor Ishihara, and Sports Minister Mr Tenzo Okumura, and visit the National Stadium, from the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Coe said that preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games were focussed on rigorous testing of operations to fine tune competition and training venues and athlete support services in order to provide the best possible Games-time conditions for athletes.

"With five months to go until London 2012, events in the new Olympic Park are taking place to test technology, staff and all essential support services for the athletes, spectators and other our client groups, including the accredited media," Coe said.

Cycling and diving competitions have been successful in the last two weeks and swimming is coming up next. "After each event we review to see if any final adjustments are needed before the Olympic Games begin," Coe said.

"Thanks to this detailed approach to testing before the Games, London will be ready to welcome the athletes to the Games with venues that will be ready to host the most exciting sporting events in the world, full of spectators and an uplifting atmosphere that will inspire athletes and young people and unite communities," said Coe.

Coe also says the London 2012 Games will deliver lasting legacies for the communities of London and the UK and for international sport and young people.

"The London 2012 Games will provide a great sporting legacy of new world class sports venues for local athletes, young and international sport, as well as much needed new community infrastructure and services for some of the poorest parts of London, located around the new Olympic Park, including essential new housing, transport upgrades, low carbon energy centre, schools, medical centre and digital commercial services.

"The London 2012 Games have been designed to deliver more than sport. We have delivered important social, economic and sporting benefits for the capital, the UK and internationally. This marks a new era and new approach in planning for the Games, based on the IOC’s Games Study Report, highlighting the importance of Sustainable Games," Coe said.

Coe talked about Japan's important role in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

"Japanese athletes are amongst the best in the world in sports as diverse as judo, swimming and gymnastics. I have no doubt that the Japanese team will enjoy a warm welcome to the Games from London's dynamic Japanese community as well as from British fans and also from the large number of Japanese visitors we expect to attend the Games."

Seb Coe revealed that Japanese athletes will attend a pre-games training camp at Loughborough University, which they will share with the Great Britain team before the Games.

"Members of the Japanese Olympic team will do their final preparations for the Games at Loughborough University, where I studied and trained at the start of my sporting career. I know from personal experience that they will benefit from worldclass training facilities and an ideal environment in the important days before Olympic competition," Coe said.

As Coe explained, London 2012 has placed the needs of the athletes first and foremost in Games planning, and has therefore located the new Olympic Village inside the Olympic Park, close to key competition venues including the Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, Aquatics Centre, Handball Arena, and others, all just seven minutes from central London via a high speed train shuttle service, built by Japan’s Hitachi company.

"Our mantra is: if you get the experience right for the athletes and the people who prepare the teams and deliver the sport, then athletes will perform well, and the world will be inspired, especially young people," Coe said.

Coe says that London 2012's International Inspiration programme will provide an unprecedented global sports legacy for millions of young people worldwide.

"We have now reached more than 12 million children and young people in 20 countries around the world through our International Inspiration programme, based on London’s vision to use the power of the Games and Olympic and Paralympic movements to connect more young people with sport," Coe said.

The programme uses high quality sporting programmes and activities to enrich the lives of children and young people of all abilities and outcomes have included improved school attendance and academic performance, empowered girls to access sport and education and participate more widely in community activity, and raised awareness of HIV AIDS and other health and lifestyle related conditions.

For more information, contact: Michael.Pirrie@london2012.com

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