A 17-strong IOC inspection committee, the first to visit London since the Capital was awarded the Games last July, has started two days of meetings with the London Organising Committee of the Games (LOCOG). LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the visit and said it represented the “formal start of the long journey to 2012”. It includes Nawal El Moutawakel (pictured), the 1984 Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion.

 

“We have now started the forensic work with our partners in Lausanne on analysing how, when and where we need to be over the next six years,” Coe said. “The IOC comes to town not as a police force but as partners, they come to town to support, monitor, advise and give guidance. We are delighted to have properly and formally started on the long journey that lies ahead of us to 2012.”

 

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said London was going “hell for leather” to stay on schedule for what she described as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone said he was confident that problems over land purchases, a potential sticking point, were well on the way to being resolved. A public enquiry into the compulsory purchase of land occupied by around 200 businesses on the main Olympic site is due to begin next month.

 

“I can tell the IOC that we now control 70 percent of the lands we require for the Olympic site and that will be 80 percent by the time of the enquiry,” Livingstone said. “The land assembly issue has largely been resolved and there is nothing now that will stand in the way of actually getting ahead and starting work.”

 

Jack Lemley, the ODA chairman, promised that the facilities would be built in time. “I have absolutely no doubt that the summer of 2012 will be the most fantastic sporting event and festival this country has ever seen,” he said.

 

“I also know that the Games will be judged on the lasting legacy the Games leaves for the country as a whole. It's a marathon not a sprint and we will deliver a gold medal performance.”

 

More details on the IOC Coordination Commission visit tomorrow on www.insidethegames.com.