Rogge Praises London 2012 Preparations As One-Year Countdown Nears

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has praised preparations for the London 2012 Games and revealed he had been “reassured” that recent upheaval at London’s Metropolitan Police would not jeopardise security for the Games.

Rogge will join London Mayor Boris Johnson, and London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) chairman Lord Coe at an event in Trafalgar Square in London to mark the one-year countdown to the Games this week.

Rogge said: “Preparations are excellent. They are on time, on budget. Quality-wise we have not the slightest concern. There is no doubt about that. London is very well organised, the team is very strong. We are very optimistic.”

Rogge also said he had been assured by Robertson that the resignations of the Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and assistant commissioner John Yates would not disrupt efforts to keep the Games safe. The IOC chief added that security had been a priority since the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.

He said: “Since Munich, security has been the No.1 priority for every organising committee. This is something that is dealt with in conjunction with the government and public authorities…The Metropolitan police do not depend on one single person. Leadership is very important but I’m sure that given the amount of time in front of us that the leadership issue will be solved rapidly.”

Rogge claimed he was also confident that London could fulfil its legacy aspirations. “There is a great urban legacy in the remediation of east London and Stratford. There are going to be great cultural and leisure activities, there is better transport, new housing. I think this is a great legacy. The other legacy is in terms of the appetite and desire for sport. That will be done after the Games.”