Deighton handed Olympics role

Paul Deighton has been chosen as the man to organise the 2012 Olympics in London.

The 49-year-old has been appointed as the new chief executive officer for LOCOG – the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

He will be responsible for the day-to-day running of an operation that has a budget of £2.4billion and will work closely with LOCOG chairman Lord Sebastian Coe.

Deighton has a background in finance with Goldman Sachs, where he has been chief operating officer of its European businesses.

He said: “As a Londoner passionate about sport I am extremely excited about this opportunity. To help stage the Olympic Games in my home city is a dream come true.”