Today, as we mark 134 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Games, it's a chance for us to reflect on the work we've done since we won the bid.
With just 19 weeks until the games start, we are where we should be in terms of preparations and we are extremely proud of the progress we have made over the last six years. Construction of venues on the Olympic Park is pretty much complete and we are working to turn them into competition venues, we are continuing to build a high quality team to deliver the games, our volunteers are coming onboard and we're continuing to test our venues.
However, we still do have a lot of work to do and whilst we're confident, in no way are we complacent. 27 July is the mother of all immoveable deadlines and we are conscious of everything we need to deliver over the next few months.
Amongst many things, we still need to deliver 12 test events, finalise all the venues, hold the Olympic Torch Relay, build temporary venues and continue recruiting and training our games time workforce.
Every time I go round the Olympic Park, I imagine it filled with athletes, spectators and media, all wandering the park and the venues together. People from different backgrounds, communities and cultures, coming together on this world stage.
Today we also took some media round the Olympic and Paralympic Village, to show them the flats which athletes will be living in during the Games.
It's incredible to think that in just a few months' time we will have athletes from around the world living in these flats and wandering the corridors, before heading to their venue to deliver the performance of a lifetime. Thanks the diversity of London and the fact that we have over 300 communities in our city, most athletes will get to compete in front of a home crowd - I think the atmosphere in the venues will be electrifying!
We're also busy at the moment training all our volunteers, or 'Games Makers' as we call them.
They've had their orientation training and we're currently giving them role-specific training, where they get to find out more about the roles they'll be doing at games time and meet some of the teams they'll be working with.
I've been lucky enough to spend time with some of our volunteers and they are amongst the most inspirational, dedicated and enthusiastic people you'll ever meet. I know they'll do us all proud at games time. The games simply couldn't happen without them, so we are all grateful for their support.
But today is also an opportunity for us to think about what London and the rest of the UK will be like this summer.
With London being probably the most international city on earth and the Olympic and Paralympic Games being the world's greatest sporting events, we have such a huge opportunity this summer and I know that we will all embrace it and make the most of it.
As we reach the final home straight, we are getting ready to stage a fantastic games. This is the largest project delivered in the UK in peace-time, and we are going to show the world what we, as a nation, and as London, can deliver.
Everyone from athletes, coaches, media and organisers have been working towards this date for many years and we can't wait to welcome people from around the world this summer and show them what London and the rest of the UK have to offer.
Over the next four months, we will be working flat out to deliver a games everyone can be proud of. Whether as an athlete, spectator, visitor, Torchbearer or Games Maker, we want everyone to feel they can play their part in making the London 2012 Games a success. It's fantastic to see how many people in the UK and around the world are inspired by, benefiting from and delivering London 2012 and we look forward to having many more join the journey over the next few months.
The London 2012 Games are a real once-in-a-generation opportunity. I'd encourage everyone to join the team and make the most of these games. I would also like to take this chance to thank all those who are already taking part.
Follow Seb Coe on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SebCoe
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All paid for by the taxpayer for London's benefit and what do we get in return?
Cameron and Coe indulging in a bit of union flag waving so its made to feel British to hide this folly.
Yaaaaaawn! It's all going to fail big time, only London and the tube workers are going to gain from all this.
The propaganda being forced on us is galling
When taxpayers are forced to pay its polite to consult them
Never had any interest in the Olympics anyway and quite frankly we've little enough money to spare without all this. It's like throwing a huge expensive party when the gas bill hasn't been paid.
let's get real for a minute, the British people are paying for this and will continue to pay for this in years to come. What have we got in return bugger all!!
why have all the big institutions got thousands of tickets? why are the brit's having to fight for every one, why do I have to open a new bank account, buy insurance or enter a sweepstake raffle, in order to get my hands on a ticket??
why are dodgy companies already suspected of illegal dealings allowed to have ticket control.
Why have the costs been allowed to get out of control? who was the dope who could not do the math?
Why when this is making Mr Coe and his pocket liner's millions, will everyone else involved be on the national minimum wage or lower??
Why were they allowed to employ foreign worker's to do the building
Why was a private company set up to manage the whole shambles
Do you really expect us brit's who live at the other end of the country, to believe that we are going to benefit in any way from this
I think that this Olympics is going to be memorable, but for all the WRONG reason's
A TERRORIST GROUP ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE OF THAT - This is going to be the target of the century for however would dare, and dare they will
Coe refers to the “games time workforce” but what about the army of unpaid workers called “Games Makers”? An army who will be performing real jobs for no money. As an aside, Coe enjoys a substantial income for his role with LOCOG. I think it’s a pity that many of those working during the Olympics won’t be so well rewarded.
Of course any reference to London’s creaking infrastructure is ignored. Why worry our visitors over something as mundane as traffic jams or public transport systems that run at peak capacity every working day at their current levels of usage?
I could go on and on. But what really annoys me is this article itself. From a PR perspective I find this piece to be both an insult to my intelligence and an own goal. What was the aim? Who was meant to be swayed by this? The British, a cynical and questioning people, are hardly likely to swallow such puff without choking. Does it make me feel proud of the Olympics? Have my concerns over cost overruns evaporated? Have my fears over Human Rights infringements been addressed? No. If anything I feel more concerned not less.
I suspect if we were asked, the government and County Hall would heard a resounding raspberry from all parts of the capital. Hence it was done without our consulatation or permission.
God, this country's ruling elite make me want to hurl.
Something the British establishment has always done well - fawning to whoever's got the most money. Hence the majority of tickets for the men's 100m, and any popular event final, going to corporate business and the privately wealthy.
And Seb, your part of the establishment, aren't you? Well done.
The people who will benefit the most are the politicians and those well connected enough to get their snouts in the trough.
Just as well. Since its likely to require several lifetimes in order to pay for it. For the current estimated cost, we could have had 0.1 of HS2.
"recruiting and training our games time workforce."
Here’s a money saving thought. Once the security personnel have served their purpose. Why not lay off the Met and install them instead. The difference in annual outlay, can then be put toward repayment of the debt.
"today is also an opportunity for us to think about what London and the rest of the UK will be like this summer."
Chaos?
"we are going to show the world what we, as a nation, and as London, can deliver."
Or possibly something they will never ever forget, for all the wrong reasons.
"I would also like to take this chance to thank all those who are already taking part."
Even those who are doing so against their will.
(faster, higher, stronger)
The Olympic Creed
Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for this phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads: The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
The Olympic Oath
First sworn by the Belgian athlete Victor Boin at the 1920 Games of the 7th Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium. The athletes swear on the Olympic Flag, "We swear that we will take part in these Olympic Games in the true spirit of sportsmanship, and that we will respect and abide by the rules that govern them, for the glory of sport and the honour of our country."
Just as the Olympic athlete has a creed and an oath with rules to follow, God has a list
of Ten Commandments. Let’s see how you do against God’s standard. The Bible says we
have all sinned (Told a lie, stolen something, taken God’s name in vain, coveted, and lusted).
This separates us from God. "...God is on one side and all the people on the other side,
and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together..." 1 Timothy 2:5