Olympic chiefs bullish as one-year countdown begins

The one-year countdown to the 2012 Olympics got under way yesterday as top officials predicted London was firmly on course to deliver a successful Games with just 12 months to go.

London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) chairman Sebastian Coe said preparations for the Games were on schedule with 90 per cent of venues complete.

“We are fully on track, we are on schedule, and we are within budget with one year to go and I take particular pride in that,” Coe told journalists in a conference call for international media.

Some of Britain’s most famous athletes were in attendance yesterday as media were shown around the Aquatics Centre, with former distance runner Steve Cram giving the venue a glowing review.

“It is stunning. It’s absolutely stunning,” the former Olympic silver medallist said.

“A lot of people talked about the venues in Beijing, talking about how good they were – the Bird’s Nest, the Cube. This is better than the Cube. It’s not because I’m British, it genuinely is.”

Meanwhile, London organisers also received a vote of confidence from Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, who said the London Games may surpass the 2000 Sydney Olympics – widely regarded as the best ever.

“I think we’re all pretty proud of Sydney (2000) and many people say that Sydney remains the benchmark,” Coates said.

“But from where I’ve been sitting London has been six months to a year ahead of us in their preparations all the way through since they were awarded the Games six years ago. These Games now have the very British stamp to them and I think there’s every prospect of them surpassing our Games.”

IOC chief Jacques Rogge, meanwhile, has described London’s preparations as “excellent.”

“They are on time, on budget. Quality-wise we have not the slightest concern,” Rogge said.

“There is no doubt about that. London is very well organised, the team is very strong. We are very optimistic.”