Sir Craig Reedie CBE, Member of the Executive Board, IOC

Q. Both West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur have place bids for the Olympic Stadium for after the games. In your opinion who would you like to see be awarded the stadium?

There are several major stadiums in Europe which host football clubs with an athletics track in place. The London stadium has a special design to allow this to happen. I have no particular choice of football club but it is important to credibility that the track remains and the stadium is regularly used.  We do not want any white elephants.

Q. West Ham have said they will keep the athletics track in the Stadium and have a 60,000 capacity. Do you ever see 60,000 people turning out for an athletics event after the Olympics?

There are clear signs that UK Athletics are producing a generation of attractive and successful athletes.  There is no reason why an annual Grand Prix event in London could not attract a crowd of 60,000 to the stadium and future World or European Championships would be very well supported.

Q. England has staged the Commonwealth games in Manchester and this was seen as a big success and has left a lasting legacy – do you think the same will be said for London and the Olympics?

The Manchester Commonwealth Games produced an excellent facilities legacy.  London is not well off for sports facilities. The London Olympic Games will transform these.

Q. Glasgow will be hosting the Commonwealth games in 2014 – what effect do you think hosting the games will have on the City and Scotland as a whole?

The 2014 Commonwealth Games will bring about real change to sports facilities in Glasgow.  The organisers are already planning the soft legacy of attracting people to sport and they will be a big event for all of the British Commonwealth countries.

Q. What has been your career highlight to date?

Putting badminton in the Olympic programme and helping London win the Olympic Games.

Q. After being a successful athlete was it always in your mind to become an IOC member and eventually the Chairman of the IOC?

I enjoyed my own competitive badminton career and was happy to help out with administration, at first in Scotland, then in the International Federation and latterly in the Olympic movement.  I never considered membership of the IOC and I will never be “Chairman”.

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as Age: 69 asNationality: British asLanguages: English, some French asMemorable Sporting Event: All British Olympic Gold Medals.  First ever Olympic Badminton Gold Medal

 

Sir Craig Reedie’s

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