Olympics bid needs strong leadership otherwise it will fail

2.47.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th May 2003

Mike Tuffrey, Lib Dem sport spokesperson

Welcoming the end to the Government's dithering over a bid for the 2012 Olympics, London Assembly Liberal Democrats said it is now time strong leadership is shown by the Mayor to ensure that London wins.

Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat sport spokesperson, said:

"The bid's strongest champion has to be the Mayor. He should have already taken steps to ensure that when this announcement was made, London was ready to jump into action. He should already have got London's business communities onboard to drive the bidding process. They stand to gain millions from a successful outcome. He should also have insisted that the private sector contributed towards the cost of mounting the games."

"The Mayor's draft London Plan only briefly mentions the Olympics and now needs rewriting. There has to be a strategic approach to mounting a bid with more research into the transport, land and environmental issues relating to a bid. Any proposed development must be long-term and for the benefit of Londoners. For example, the Olympic village could provide thousands of much needed affordable homes for the capital."

"If the bid is to be credible, he will also have to do much more to pressure the Government into taking key decisions about London's transport systems – especially in East London. The Government has dithered over CrossRail, Thameslink 2000 threatens to become Thameslink 3000, and the East London Line extensions are subject to endless delays."

"The Olympics need 21st century transport links, sporting facilities that will benefit both Londoners and the world's greatest athletes and, above all, strong political leadership. We are certainly not getting that so far from the Mayor."