Olympics Minister Talks Legacy; IOC Meets Queen; Mayor Clarifies Comments

(ATR) British sports minister Hugh Robertson says the "Olympics-specific" effect upon sports participation in the U.K. will last only six months to a year but won’t be "the end of the story".

"It’s sort of the start of a new chapter," he said Monday during a LOCOG briefing on Games legacy.

Robertson cited the 2015 European Eventing Championships, 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and 2017 World Athletics Championships among the host of elite events the U.K. has bid for – and won – since London secured Olympic hosting rights from the IOC in 2005.

He also made the first of several references to Sunday’s finish in the Tour de France, where British cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome placed 1-2 in what he called a "perfect curtain-raiser" for Friday’s opening ceremony to London 2012.

"In terms of individual sporting achievements, I’m struggling to think of a better one" in British sports history, he said.

Robertson repeatedly mentioned the emergence of half a million new cyclists in his country since the successes of Beijing 2008, where Wiggins, Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton led Team GB to a table-topping eight gold and 14 total cycling medals.

Less than an hour after a formal announcement from Mayor Boris Johnson that the capital would bid for the 2016 Track Cycling World Championships with the Olympic Park’s Velodrome as the venue, he promised the campaign his strongest support.

"We’re not the only people who want this," he said, adding that London has "all the key ingredients" to woo the International Cycling Union.

Speaking during the briefing on behalf of LOCOG's "Inspired by London 2012" program, triple jump Olympic champion and world record holder Jonathan Edwards said: "I can’t begin to tell you the weird and wonderful things I’ve done that I’ve never thought could be associated with an Olympic or Paralympic Games."

That includes Coca-Cola’s partnership with Street Games, a charity bringing sport to disadvantaged youth; Northern Ireland’s "Activate" initiative; a Bolton boxing club’s program for troubled young girls; and more than 2,500 other projects across the U.K.

"It’s about opportunity, it’s about inspiration, and I think you need both," said Edwards, asked whether elite sport or grassroots efforts should be the priority of an Olympics legacy.

"You’ve got to somehow inspire young people to want to make something of their lives," he added.

On the shortfall of security contractor G4S, Robertson said he’s more confident than ever after going through the gates of Olympic Park this morning and seeing "cheerful and confident" troops a plenty.

And on Sebastian Coe’s recent remark that a ticketholder wearing a Pepsi t-shirt would be denied entry because of Olympics sponsorship rights, Robertson clarified that only groups attempting ambush marketing stunts would be blocked, not mere individuals.

IOC to Meet the Queen

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will welcome the IOC at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The event will take place at Buckingham Palace on Monday with the Queen arriving at 5:30 p.m. and speeches beginning after 6 p.m..

Joining the Queen are Prince Richard and his wife, Birgitte and Princess Alexandra.

Following the Buckingham Palace event, the IOC will head to Covent Garden for the opening ceremony of the 117th IOC Session.

Earlier Monday, IOC president Jacques Rogge and other IOC members inspected the Olympic Village.

Mayor Clarifies Comments

A spokesperson for Boris Johnson backtracks on statements saying a memorial for the 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack will take place.

On Friday, Johnson took to Twitter, saying that there will be a moment of silence for the slain Israeli team members.

"believe me we will have one," the mayor tweeted. "was stunned to find barcelona (20 anniversary) had nothing."

However, on Monday, a spokesperson told Around the Rings: "The mayor is confident a moment of silence will be observed at some point during the Games." When pressed for when the observance would take place, the spokesperson said: "he’s not being specific at this time."

World leaders and governments have called for a moment’s silence at the Opening Ceremony on Friday.

The IOC has repeatedly said it will not have a moment of silence, but will pay its respects at an event in London’s Guildhall during the Games and at a ceremony in Munich on the anniversary of the killings in September.

Written and reported from the Main Press Center by Matthew Grayson and Ed Hula III.

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