London reveals 2012 Olympic Games plan

London's Olympic Games and Paralympic Games would be a games for the next generation, according to bid Chairman Sebastian Coe.

Unveiling London 2012's detailed plans, the former double Olympic champion outlined how the city would help the stars of the future follow in his footsteps.

"The London Games is a model for the next generation of athletes and for planning around the long-term needs of Olympic host cities and communities," he said.

Lord Coe was speaking as London revealed the detail of its bid, contained in the 600-page Candidate File, which was submitted to the International Olympic Committee earlier this week.

The blueprint is based on extensive use of existing venues, rapid transport connections and state-of-the-art sporting facilities linked to sustainable community benefits.

The centrepiece of the bid is a new 500-acre Olympic Park in east London, containing world-class new sports facilities as well as the Olympic Village and media facilities.

The Village, surrounded by key Olympic venues - including the 80,000-seat main stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome, will be the most spacious in Olympic history. Eight-out-of-10 athletes will be within 20 minutes of their events.

The new park will be served by 10 rail lines, nine of which already exist ferrying up to 240,000 spectators an hour from central London in just seven minutes via high-speed shuttle trains.

Venues for the Paralympic Games will be fully integrated into the design of Olympic facilities for the benefit of all athletes, according to the file.

"This will be a truly inclusive Games, with the needs of disabled people built into facilities for the Games and beyond," Lords Coe said.

The government today gave its full backing to London's 2012 Olympic Games bid, with Prime Minister Tony Blair describing London's proposals as "very strong".

He said: "We are absolutely committed to the Olympics coming to London in 2012. It is important because we can achieve a tremendous sporting legacy for this country through the investment in the Olympics.

"The Olympics will bring a lot of people, a lot of visitors, a lot of tourism to the country, and also because this is a nation that is passionate about sport, and I think that it is increasingly clear that people see now this London bid as a very strong bid, and the government is 101% behind it."

The Opposition has also lend its support to the bid. Part leader Michael Howard said that with over 300 languages spoken by its 200 communities, London would be able to welcome the world's athletes like no other city on earth.

He added: "I am convinced that the UK's passion for sport, combined with the stunning backdrop of London, the cultural diversity of our great capital city and the bid teams innovative plans - would ensure a memorable Games in 2012 and leave the UK a better, more proud place. That is why I strongly support London in its campaign to bring the Games to the UK in 2012."

(gmcg/sp)