London Budget, Moscow 30th, IAAF and FIFA Hold Youth Championships

7/19/2010

Organizers Trim London 2012 Budget

Organizers of the London 2012 Olympics have reduced the cost of the Games by $41.2 million in line with savings ordered by Britain's new coalition government.

The Olympic Delivery Authority said today that it saved $19.8 million on construction site security, $16.8 million on the International Broadcast Center and Main Press Center and another $4.6 million on changes to the basketball arena and velodrome.

The overall public sector funding package for the Games now stands at $14.2 billion. The figures are revealed in the 2012 Games quarterly economic report published today.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: “With a little over two years to go until the Games we are in good shape – on schedule and within budget. We have hit all our milestones for 2010 and announced the next set which will take us to next summer when the main venues and infrastructure needed for the Games will be complete."

He added: "As we have done since the very start of the project we have made savings through driving greater efficiency on a range of projects.

“We have made a total of £700m savings in this way, most recently absorbing both the agreed £27m [$41.2 million] reduction in the ODA’s budget and the impact of the [government's] Emergency Budget.

"We will continue to bear down on costs wherever possible whilst ensuring we deliver what is required for both a fantastic Games in 2012 and a lasting legacy afterwards.”

Around $1.1 billion in savings has now been achieved by the ODA since the November 2007 baseline budget was set by former Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell in the last Labour government. Most of these savings have been used to keep the budget on track by offsetting cost increases in other areas of the program and helping to manage the impacts of the economic recession.

Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson said that the London 2012 project was in "an excellent position" as the July 27 two-years-to-go mark approaches. He noted that more than two-thirds of construction work on venues and infrastructure in the Olympic Park was now complete.

“The ODA have done an excellent job thus far, delivering a complex project on time and within budget despite the credit crunch. Today’s report shows they have delivered £27 million [$41.2 million] of savings as part of the government’s measures for reducing the deficit while keeping the whole Olympic program intact," he said.

Moscow Games Turn 30

Russia today celebrates the 30th anniversary of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

On July 19, 1980, the Games opened amid much controversy following the U.S.-led boycott by more than 60 countries opposed to the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

A total of 80 nations competed, the lowest number since 1956, with 5,179 athletes participating in 203 events.

The Soviet Union won a record 197 medals. By comparison, Russia picked up 72 medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Despite the boycott, there were plenty of memorable moments covered by the 5,615 accredited media (2,865 written press, 2,930 broadcasters).

Aleksandr Dityatin of Russia earned medals in every men's gymnastics event to become the first athlete to win eight medals at one Olympics. There was also the duel between British middle-distance runners Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe. Ovett won the 800m ahead of his compatriot. But Coe took gold in the 1500m, with Ovett coming third.

Coe, now chairman of the London 2012 organizing committee, won his second Olympic gold in the 1500m at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

The Black Sea resort of Sochi will host Russia's first Winter Olympics in 2014.

WADA Annual Report Now Available

The World Anti-Doping Agency published its 2009 annual report today.

/> The 36-page-document outlines the organization’s recent accomplishments, ongoing research and future objectives.

In February 2009, WADA reached an agreement with INTERPOL and now has a liaison among WADA, its stakeholders and INTERPOL bureaus.

The decade-old organization also revised its World Anti-Doping Code to make education programs mandatory and strengthened its emphasis on more effective, value-based programs.

The code now counts 630 signatories worldwide.

To view an interactive online version of the report, click here.

IAAF Juniors Host Sprinting Elite

Almost 1500 track-and-field athletes begin competition today at the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada.

Despite their youth, several top sprinters are already chasing history.

Nineteen-year-old Dexter Lee from Jamaica seeks to become the first man to defend a World Junior title in the 100m and the third to complete a sprint double by winning the 200m as well.

Likewise, 16-year-old Jodie Williams of Great Britain looks to become the third woman to achieve a 100/200m double.

Events run through Sunday.

U-20 Women’s World Cup Prepares for Elimination Play

FIFA’s U-20 Women’s World Cup kicks off its second week of action today at four sites spread throughout Germany.

Each of the 16 teams has a match left in group play. The top two teams from each of the four groups will then advance to the quarterfinals, with the final match to come August 1.

Three of the four sites – Dresden, Bochum and Augsburg – will also host matches in next summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Written by Mark Bisson and Matthew Grayson.

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