London reaches for the stars

By Andrew Fraser
BBC Sport at the London bid presentation

Coe delivers Olympic promise

London bid leader Lord Coe did not hold back as he took the wraps off the city's final plans to host the Olympics in 2012.

With the eyes of the world's media on him, Coe confidently predicted that a London Games would be the best in Olympic history.

With favourite Paris and rivals New York, Madrid and Moscow also lobbying hard, there is, of course, a chance we will never know whether Coe is telling the truth or not.

But let's imagine for a moment London did get the Olympics.

According the London's plans, the Games would begin with an opening ceremony on Friday, 27 July 2012.

Over the next two and a half weeks, the city would be gripped by the biggest sporting spectacular it had ever seen.

Bearing tickets costing as little as £15, spectators would board "Olympic Javelin" bullet trains to whisk them from St Pancras station to the main Olympic area around Stratford in east London in just seven minutes.

They could also travel for free on any of the other nine rail or underground lines serving West Ham, Stratford Regional and Stratford stations.

At a glance: Details of London's bid

Once there, they would be able to stroll through the "largest urban park in Europe for 150 years", before watching events at a new Olympic stadium, aquatics centre, velodrome and a cluster of other sports complexes.

The rest of the city would not miss out either.

Tennis would be at Wimbledon - the first Olympic tennis event on grass since 1924 - archery at Lord's and baseball and softball in Regent's Park.

Scepticism

Horse Guards Parade would provide an intriguing setting for the beach volleyball and triathletes would begin their quest for gold with a dip in the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

"Careful attention will be paid to ensure safe bathing water quality," the bid promises.

The city's major landmarks would be used as a backdrop for the marathon, triathlon and road cycling events, with spectators lining the streets without the need for tickets.

Chances to party will be plentiful, with bid screens showing the action in Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park, and a host of open-air concerts and shows planned.

An aerial view of London's planned Olympic Park for 2012

In pictures

Whether London wins or not will depend on whether the International Olympic Committee's 120 members believe all this can realistically be achieved.

The IOC voiced concerns about London's transport plans in May, and its inspection team will no doubt have some awkward questions up their sleeve.

The idea of having a train approaching the transport hub every 15 seconds is impressive, but London commuters will be sceptical.

To answer the IOC's venue concerns, Coe and his team have moved the planned location of shooting, mountain biking and fencing events to bring them closer to the Olympic zone.

They are also talking up the fact they are the only one of the five cities that would have an athletes' village on the same site as the key venues.

Athletes are promised the most spacious accommodation in Olympic history - 16 square metres per person - with TV and internet access in each room, dining room for 5,500 and the obligatory disco.

There will also be special transport lanes, complete with "lane enforcement and signal optimisation", to speed members of the Olympic family on their way.

We have an amazing bid which is capable of beating four of the biggest cities in the world. For once, let's believe in something and feel proud! From OL Have your say on Five Live

The city's other main problem is that a number of its venues, while impressive, are not yet bricks and mortar.

The initial problems with Wembley and the aborted Pickett's Lock venture are unwelcome reminders of recent projects which have not gone to plan.

Paris also has key venues to build, but its Olympic stadium has already staged a World Cup football final and the World Athletics Championships.

Coe must hope he can back up his fighting talk when the IOC comes to London in February.