London is so ready to host the Olympic Games in July 2012 grass is being laid around some venues in Olympic Park, 275 days before the Games begin.

Representatives of the world’s press, who are in London for a final planning visit, were impressed by the quality of the venues they toured, in particular the Aquatics Centre and Velodrome. But the real surprise came by how advanced construction is around the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.

Jokes were made that the grass never quite made it for the Athens Games in 2004. Beautification was even happening in some parts of Beijing in 2008 after competition had commenced.

“London is miles ahead of Sydney nine months out,” Australian IOC Member Kevan Gosper told the World Press Briefing.

Gosper is more than qualified to make such a comparison. He was a key member of the organising committee for Sydney 2000, which is known as the ‘best Games ever’ and the benchmark for all future Games.

Could Sydney’s title of greatest host be under threat by the mother country? And with Team GB in front of Australia in recent medal predictions, it could be a tough few weeks for the Aussies.

The Australian Olympic Committee officials in London this week are hoping that the Aquatic Centre being run by Australian Rob Abernathy and the seats in the venue being coloured gold could be enough to get our Team off to the strong start they need. Historically one-third of Australia’s medals at a Games are won in the pool. Ian Thorpe and Libby Trickett’s return to competition next week will be a more calculated factor.

London Organising Committee Chief Executive Paul Deighton said with only 39 more weeks until the Games they are ‘right on schedule’. He knows there is no time for complacency and his team must grow rapidly both in paid staff and volunteers, they must continue to test vigorously, drive costs down to remain on budget and utilise the Torch Relay and other milestones to broaden the Olympic fan base in England.

London won the right to host the Games in 2005 when the financial climate was very different to today. Delivering on everything that was promised is an extraordinary achievement. 

London certainly has avid sports fans, a culture of entertainment and iconic venues. The photographs and television pictures will be breathtaking. Never before have so many ‘postcard venues’ such as Wimbledon, Horse Guards Parade, Lords Cricket Ground and Greenwich been incorporated into an Olympics.

Ultimately however, London 2012 will be judged on security, transport, athletes meeting expectations and the weather behaving. Billions of pounds are being spent and the world will hope that it is an English summer like no other for the ultimate sporting spectacle.

Andrew Reid in London
AOC