Lord Coe says London can learn from Vancouver Olympics
01st March 2010
London should learn from the way in which the Canadian public has embraced the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Sebastian Coe has said. The London 2012 chairman has been at Olympic sites in and around Vancouver.
He will report on his findings at the Winter Olympics in preparation for the London 2012 Olympics.
"What do you want out of a Games? You want full stadia which more importantly are full of people who look like they want to be there," Lord Coe said.
Sold-out venues in both Vancouver and Whistler helped to lift the Games after a start marred by the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.
Party atmosphere
"It's about the way the city has embraced the Games. You go out to the live sites which are really smart theatres in themselves, and which are very informative in terms of inspiring young people to take up sport," said Lord Coe.
"It is about the way the streets have absorbed not just the Games but also some of the initiatives from local sponsors and top partners - the way the city has embraced the Games in an integrated way. "
Lord Coe said he would take experience from all the Olympics he has competed in and observed.
"From Beijing we want that forensic eye for detail and delivery," he said.
"In Sydney, you want the party atmosphere, and in Vancouver, you want that city engagement and the way the Games have been embraced. "
Source: BBC