Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has been responding to the news that London will host the 2012 Olympics.
‘This is one of the best days London has ever had – and it is one of
the proudest days for Britain and for British sport. We had the
confidence to go for it and we have won the greatest prize in sport.
When we began this bidding process very few people believed that we
could win but London’s renaissance has overcome all the obstacles.
It has been a gruelling but great competition against five world
cities who all put together excellent bids all truly worthy of the
Olympic movement and ideals.
This was always a prize worth going for and we can still be proud
about what we have achieved. I would like to thank them all for a hard
but fair battle over the last two years. I would also like to thank
everyone involved in the monumental effort they have put into creating
London’s world beating bid. Londoners themselves deserve thanks for the
tremendous support they have shown for our bid. Without public support
we could not have won.
The IOC have given us an extraordinary opportunity which must now live up to. In 2012 we’ll repay this honour by staging the greatest Olympics and Paralympics ever and show the world what London and Britain can do.’
