Brentford Councillor toasts Olympic success

Ruth Cadbury heading up cross-London games group

Commenting on her delight that London will host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Association of London Government's Olympic lead member, Cllr Ruth Cadbury, said:

"This is fantastic news. It is testament to the hard work put in by the London 2012 team, with the full support of the boroughs, that we have won the race to host the greatest sporting spectacle in the world.

"I am proud of the efforts that have gone into this excellent bid and the support it has received from millions of people from across the country.

"This success provides a win-win situation for everyone. People across London will be able to see world class athletes in action virtually on their doorstep, and the Games will generate a huge feel good factor across London and throughout the UK.

"It's also a great way to encourage more people to get involved in sport at a grass roots level and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

"Thanks to the foundation of a unique planning process set up by the boroughs involved in the Games a 126 hectare Olympic Park will be created. This will include a top class multi purpose stadium, world class aquatic centre, and a three-arena multi sports complex.

"The lives of ordinary Londoners will also be hugely improved with 9,000 new homes being built and billions of pounds of investment in the capital's transport system. As well as benefiting from the new sporting facilities the country's economy will also receive a major boost through jobs, services and tourism.

"Up to 70,000 volunteers will also be trained to work on the Games, giving them new skills to help develop their future careers. London's diversity will also be celebrated in a four year culture programme prior to the Games.

"The race to host the Olympics may have been won, but now we are about to start on the marathon process of staging a Games that will last in the minds of the billions of people who will watch them."

July 20, 2005