Q&A with British Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson

(ATR) Hugh Robertson talks exclusively to Around the Rings about preparations for London 2012 and the budgetary, security and legacy challenges facing the government.

Robertson has been Britain's sport and Olympics minister since May when Britain's new Conservative-led coalition government came to power.

ATR: What are your thoughts on preparations for London 2012?

Hugh Robertson: Preparations are in very good shape. Projects are on time and mostly under budget. Having said that, it is crucial to remember this is the most difficult year we are going to face on the project. Construction finishes and operational challenges start to come in over the next 12 months. We now have to focus on security and ticketing - they are the major challenges.

ATR: What are your priorities with less than two years to go?

HR: To continue the work on the construction site and get the remainder of work finished on time and on budget. To meet all operational challenges that make the Games tick such as volunteering. They really come to the fore over the next year. Thirdly, that we really keep on focusing on the athletes. And what presents an enormous challenge is the Games legacy.

ATR: What's impressed you most about the work of LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)?

HR: Most impressive has been the work done by the ODA on the [Olympic Park] site. To have got as far as they have as fast as they have and actually achieved £700 million ($1.1bn) in savings is remarkable. That has definitely allowed us to pay for the Olympic Village and broadcast media center. The main Olympic stadium, which is generally seen as the iconic venue, is in great shape. It looks fantastic and is really eye-catching. The project is where it ought to be. When the IOC was in town, Jacques Rogge [IOC president] screwed down the 2012th seat. It's proceeding on schedule.

ATR: How close is the government to finding a tenant such as West Ham United FC to take over the Olympic Stadium?

HR: The government through the Olympic Park Legacy Company has seen a number of expressions of interest. They are being worked on by the OPLC. We hope to make an announcement in the autumn. I want a package that delivers on our [Olympic] bid document to leave a world-class athletics venue. Behind that caveat, I want a stadium in legacy mode that is full of people that can be used for sport and is economically viable. A football club could achieve that. It is up to West Ham and anybody else to come up with the right plan. We are not going to give it to them.

ATR: Have the government and British Olympic Association set realisticmedal targets for the Games?

HR: Yes we have. The official medal target is fourth. I entirely agree with the BOA that this is a very challenging target. Everybody recognised we did extraordinarily well in Beijing to come fourth. We are putting a lot of money into training up athletes. More athletes are being funded than was the case for Beijing.

ATR: Will the government be asking the ODA to make further cuts as part of its comprehensive spending review in October?

HR: We are right in the middle of that procedure. There is a fine judgement to be made here. The budget is allocated to delivering 2012 on time and on budget. The ODA has done fantastically well not to use too much contingency. There are all sorts of different challenges, some we have identified some we haven't, that may call on the contingency. In short, no decision will be announced until 20 October.

ATR: Do you expect the government's security budget for the Games to exceed the £600m set aside for it?

HR: That figure remains intact with £238 million ($373m) of contingency. I am not aware that we have identified a huge funding hole. We are doing absolutely everything possible... that by planning early, by identifying the risks, by doing research that the budget is not exceeded.

ATR: Are you confident in delivering a lasting sporting legacy from the Games?

HR: We have made extremely good progress. First, there is an increase in the amount of funding we have from the National Lottery to 20 percent The amount of money sport governing bodies get to invest in grassroots sport has risen from 5 percent to 30 percent. Already we have a plan for a School Olympics starting next year. A School Olympics will embrace every school boy and girl at primary and secondary level. That has never been done before for an Olympic Games. There will be a further announcement in October. And we are planning a lot with the Olympic Park Legacy Company.

ATR: Have you abandoned the target of getting two million people to take up sport before the 2012 London Olympics?

HR: I am not going to get into discussions on targets. I want to set policy first and then look at how we benchmark this. That remains my position.

ATR: Are you happy for the GB football team for 2012 to be made up only of English players?

HR: I would like to see a British football team in 2012 that represents all the four corners of the UK. But I absolutely understand and recognise the concerns shown by the home nations. It is entirely up to them to make a decision on whether they wish to participate or not. But I would encourage them to do so.

Interview by Mark Bisson

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