London 2012 'to be greenest ever'

Lord Coe said major construction should be under way next year

The London 2012 Olympics are to be the greenest games in history, organisers have said.

With 2,012 days to go, the body in charge of construction and design said it would champion low waste, low carbon emissions and green transportation.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said London 2012 could become a "cutting edge example of sustainability".

The government though is expected to be criticised for its handling of finances in an MPs' report due out on Wednesday.

Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said: "Ensuring a sustainable approach to building the Games will help ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action, but also as the greenest games to date."

Better than Sydney

The ODA claims it will cut emissions to 50% by generating energy on the site and renewable energy.

It also said about 90% of the demolition materials will be reused or recycled and at least 20% of materials used in permanent venues and residential areas would be recycled.

And half of the construction materials will be transported to the Olympic Park by rail and water.

Walking, cycling and public transport will be promoted as the best ways to get to the events.

London Olympic Organising chairman Lord Coe and Mr Blair responded to the strategy in a joint podcast.

Funding cap

Lord Coe said London was trying to produce a better example of green and sustainable Games than the much-praised Sydney 2000 Games.

The green strategy however could be overshadowed by Wednesday's report by MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

It is expected to call for a cap on lottery spending on the event which is currently set at £1.5bn for building and staging the event.

Earlier this month, the government indicated it may dip into National Lottery funds to make up for the shortfall in the final budget.

We are in very secure territory Lord Coe

It accepted such a decision would mean loss of income to non-Olympic good causes but said the benefits of staging the games will far outstrip the costs.

The costs of building venues for the games has risen by more than £900m to £3.3bn.

The Liberal Democrats culture spokesman Don Foster has tabled a Commons motion, warning it would be "disastrous" if the extra £900m was diverted away from other causes.

Lord Coe said that research showed support in London for the Games was at its highest.

"We are in very secure territory," he told BBC One's Breakfast.

He added that the government was carrying out a "careful examination" of costs and it was right have these discussions now, rather than years after the Games.