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Glasgow Commonweath Games
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Lord Sebastian Coe is chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Here he shares his thoughts on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games win with SPT Express.
What was your reaction to the announcement that Glasgow won the Commonwealth Games bid?
The London 2012 team and I were watching the voting on television and we were all delighted when Glasgow won the bid. It also brought back a few memories for those of us who were involved in our bid!
When judges evaluate the candidate cities, they always look in great detail at every aspect of the bid so it's a real credit to Glasgow that they won it so convincingly.
During the London Olympics and Glasgow Commonwealth Games the eyes of the world will be on these cities. However, how important is it that the Games leave legacies for their respective cities? What do you think these legacies should be?
It's true that we want to host a spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Over the four weeks of the competition, I know there will be a real buzz in the city and around the country as athletes and sports fans come to the UK for the biggest sporting event in the world.
The vision we took to Singapore was more than just hosting a spectacular Games though. Yes we want to host a Games that will genuinely inspire young people in the UK (and beyond) to take up sport and be active, but we also want to host a Games that will be the catalyst for change in a deprived area of London. At every stage of our planning, we think about the legacy of London 2012. Skills, jobs, housing, a huge new urban park and fantastic sporting facilities that can be used by elite sport and by the local community. We want to host a spectacular – but sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games. The majority of our venues already exist or will be temporary – the days of building grandiose venues that have little or no use when the Games have left town are long gone.
What role will public transport play in joining up the sporting venues for the London Olympics?
Public transport is at the core of the transport strategy we are putting in place. We have an aim of ensuring all ticketed spectators travel to competition venues by public transport, on foot or by cycling. We know this will be a challenge but with investment plans in place to enable greater capacity on the Underground, and improved services on the Docklands Light Railway, we are very confident it can be done. With the addition of the high speed rail link between St Pancras and the Olympic Park, London 2012 will be incredibly well connected.
What advice would you give the Glasgow organising team to encourage the use of public transport during the 2014 Commonwealth Games?
I know that Glasgow's plans include ambitious targets to ensure spectators and visitors use public transport. With the incentive of free public transport for anyone who has a ticket for that day’s games, the Glasgow organising team already seems to have great ideas in place.
If new transport infrastructure is going to be built, then again I think the legacy factor is important and should be considered right from planning stage.
As a former athlete, how important do you think global sporting events are in encouraging interest in sport?
I believe that the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games will provide opportunities for everyone; for athletes to make a name for themselves, for the sports themselves to raise their profile and inspire future generations.
Travelling around the UK, I have already met lots of very enthusiastic sportspeople and teams who are excited about the opportunities the Games will generate. As we get closer to 2012 and 2014, interest will heighten further and that's fantastic.
What would your message be to the young people of Scotland who might be thinking about trying a new sport?
Go for it! To put it simply, sport can change your life. Sport can teach you to challenge yourself and reach your personal goals. And along the way, who knows? Maybe we can find the next generation of sporting superstars!