IOC boss allays Olympic cash fears

THE president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, has warned the financial crisis poses a challenge for the London 2012 Olympics but is confident the Games will survive the test.

Rogge, in a speech in London last night, said the Games had survived global economic slumps in the past.

He also pointed out that London will be less dependent on the huge building projects than Beijing.

Rogge said: “I am conscious that we come out of the enormous success of Beijing, into difficult economic times.

“Well, the Games have survived difficult times before. They survived and thrived because of what they mean to people across the world. The Games remind us the transient difficulties of life can be overcome through hard work and determination.”

International Olympic chiefs are in London this week for four days of talks on the lessons that can be learned from the Beijing Games.

Officials from Beijing are sharing their experiences with organisers from London, Vancouver, Sochi and the 2016 candidate cities.

In his speech, Rogge said the IOC’s decision to slim down the Games following the Olympic Games Study Commission report of 2003 would help London to cope with economic difficulties.

He added: “This report made a series of recommendations to limit the size, cost and complexity of future Olympic Games.

“London has learned from this, and it will build its Games around legacy and sustainability.

“It will use existing and temporary venues, and the city’s existing infrastructure. It will only build facilities that will be valued and used by the local community long after the Games are over. London has made regeneration a priority.

“Each Games are unique. It is not the amount of money spent that determines how good a Games is, it is also the unique and inspiring atmosphere created within the city. I’m sure London will do very well there.”

Rogge also revealed the challenge to inspire a generation of couch potatoes to take up sport. “Some 22 million children under the age of five and one in 10 schoolchildren are overweight.

“By the time they reach adulthood 1.6 billion people, or one in six of the world’s population, are overweight; 400 million adults are clinically obese.”