The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Jubilation turns to shock in London

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Friday, Jul 08, 2005

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Sport - Olympic Games

Jubilation turns to shock in London

TESTING TIMES?: The organisers of the 2012 Olympics would have to come up with a foolproof security systems at all venues, including the proposed Olympic stadium shown in this computer-generated image. — Photo: AP

SINGAPORE: Just hours after celebrating their victory for the 2012 Olympics, the London delegation expressed shock at the series of explosions which rocked the British capital on Thursday. The International Olympic Committee said it remained confident the Games would be safe.

"I'm totally distraught," said Keith Mills, chief executive of London's bid team. "I think it goes to demonstrate that no city in the world can escape terrorism these days. Even London, that has probably the best and most sophisticated security services in the world finds it difficult to deal with these sorts of attacks."

Mills said the London contingent in Singapore was "completely and utterly devastated."

"This is our town, our city, our home," Mills said. "We're praying for the people who have been affected."

Mills said he planned to leave soon for London with mayor Ken Livingstone and Sebastian Coe, leader of the team that won Wednesday's vote to host the 2012 Games.

IOC's support

IOC president Jacques Rogge, who was informed of the attacks during the committee's annual general assembly, sent messages of condolence and support to British officials.

"It is a sad fact of society today that tragic and shocking attacks of this nature can happen in any city at any time," the IOC said in a statement.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies stressed the decision to award the Games to London was not in question. "From what we understand, this is not at all related to the Olympic Games," Davies said. "We have full confidence in the London authorities in securing the event."

British Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said celebrations planned to coincide with the return of the London 2012 delegation would be cancelled. She declined further comment.

Press salutes win

Britain's newspapers hailed London's Olympic bid victory. The Daily Telegraph said, "Britain is a winner on the world stage" and the Olympic victory added to a superb spell for the country.

The press toasted Coe, dubbed `Lord of the Rings'. The double Olympic gold medallist, 48, was hailed a gritty `never-say-die hero' for turning round London's bid when Paris seemed dead certain of winning.

Coe "may have single-handedly won London the 2012 Olympic Games with a brilliant speech to the IOC in Singapore," the Daily Mirror wrote.

The Times and The Independent used an identical wraparound front-and-back-page photo of the ticker-tape Trafalgar Square celebrations.

"It is hard to exaggerate the importance to all Britain, of this achievement," The Times said.

London "now has a chance to buff its reputation as a world city and renew itself for the new century."

Dig at Chirac

The Sun could not resist the chance to lash crestfallen French President Jacques Chirac after London's win stunned Paris.

The tabloid baked the `blundering president' a humble pie and blasted Chirac's `strutting arrogance' for his `uncouth attack' on British cuisine in the run-up to the bid.

The Sun suggested Chirac might also try coq-up au vin, stuffed frog, hard cheese and sour grapes washed down with French whines.

Newspapers rounded on the French leader with the Daily Mail running two pages under the headline `Who's laughing now, Mr Chirac?' and branding him `staggeringly inept'.

"What put a spring in the step of every red-blooded Englishman yesterday was the spectacle of France's discomfort," it said.

The tabloid ran several present and 2012 images of sites to be used in the Games.

London primed

Organisers of London's bid woke up to the knowledge that they had to start work immediately to produce a successful Games. The London officials were brought down to earth with advice from the Athens organisers who staged the most expensive Games in 2004.

"Prepare early," Greek Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said.

In a press conference minutes after the announcement, one journalist asked an ecstatic Prime Minister whether this would mean increasing taxes for the public and the capital's Evening Standard newspaper listed a string of promises the organisers must stick to.

If the preparations are to run smoothly, Coe and his team will have to keep the notoriously fickle British press on side.

"There can be none of the delays and brinkmanship about construction which blighted the Athens Games last year nor anything resembling the cock-ups that bedevilled the new Wembley," the Standard said, in reference to delays incurred over the national soccer stadium.

Greece effectively wasted three years of preparations and was forced to foot a bill of more than 9.0 billion euros more than twice the initial estimate, mainly because of the delays. — Agencies

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