IOC applauds London for flying start

LONDON, Apr 21 (Reuters) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today said it was encouraged by London's early progress following a two-day visit to the host city for the 2012 Games.

In the first inspection by the IOC's Coordination Commission since London's bid victory in Singapore last July, its chairman Denis Oswald applauded London for maintaining the momentum for its ''ambitious and visionary'' project.

The 17-strong party from the Coordination Commission, made up of former Olympians and previous Games organisers, toured the site of the Olympic Park in London's East End and the Stratford international railway station that will form the transport hub for the 2012 festival.

''London's project is ambitious and visionary, but as sporting people we admire this ambition and look forward to playing our part in London's Olympic journey,'' Oswald told a news conference in the Canary Wharf financial district, headquarters for the London organising Committee (LOCOG).

Oswald was particularly impressed with the speed with which London had made the transition from bid city to host city compared with 2004 hosts Athens where organisational problems delayed the start of construction projects.

''Since its election last July, LOCOG has demonstrated the energy and excitement that this project is bringing to the city and the country,'' Oswald said.

SPECIFIC AREAS The Coordination Commission will visit London twice a year, although smaller teams could visit at regular intervals to look at specific areas of the London's preparations.

Commenting on what they had seen in London, Oswald said the near completion of a major project to bury electricity cables on the site of the Olympic Park was impressive.

He also praised developments for the indoor arena at the Millennium Dome.

''There must be a balance between your ambitions and your resources but I think in the case of London they certainly have the resources, the people and the technical ability to achieve what they have promised,'' said Oswald.

Asked if the much-publicised delays with the building of the new Wembley Stadium had caused alarm within the IOC, Oswald said he was confident all London's Olympic sites would be completed on schedule.

''The key is to have reserve time, contingency plans in case of delays,'' he said.

''As London started immediately after July 6 last year with all the projects we have no fear that they won't be ready in time for the test events and the Games.'' The next planned visit by the Coordination Commission to London will take place in 2007.

REUTERS KD KP2154