Speaking at the London House, on the eve of the historic Handover to London as the next Olympic Host City, Johnson gave his full support Events for London, the organisation leading on attracting, growing and developing major sporting and cultural events in London.

 

London has already made its mark as a top destination for international sporting events following the hugely successful hosting of the 2007 Grand Départ of the Tour de France, which attracted over two million spectators, and the first ever National Football League regular season game to be held outside the Americas.

 

Events for London, the recently created partnership between the Mayor, Visit London, and the London Development Agency, will help event organisers and sponsors to maximise the impact, audience and benefits of holding major sporting and cultural events in London.

 

Johnson said: “There is no doubt about it - London is right up there with Beijing and New York to host top international sporting events.

 

"We can provide world-class Olympic training facilities, we have world-class theatre and culinary offerings and more importantly, we have the hunger to improve on this reputation.

 

"That is why Events for London is now tasked with bringing even more Olympic and non-Olympic sports to the city.

 

"The message is clear: sporting bodies will find us an open, accessible and more important, welcoming city.”

 

Among the leading events to be staged in London is the match between New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat at the O2 Arena on October 12.

 

Sophie Goldschmidt, the NBA's European vice president, said: “London is the perfect platform to host any sporting event.

 

"It’s a city that understands how to work with global sports to fulfil their objectives, whether media coverage, brand development, expanding a fan base or community engagement.

 

"It’s also a city that’s truly passionate about sport."

 

With other leading sports such as the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2, Red Bull Air Race and NHL Hockey mixing with Champions League football, international rugby and cricket, London’s sporting calendar has started to reflect the huge potential the city offers federations, organisers and rights holders as well as the sporting public, Events for London claimed.

 

Visit London's David Hornby said: “London is fast becoming the world’s most exciting major events destination.

 

"The Events for London project within Visit London provides us with a key strategic role in driving not only economic benefit to the capital but also helps us to engage new audiences for sport and inspire a new generation to participate.

 

"We are passionate about sport in London and that leads to inspiring events in our city.”

 

Dame Kelly Holmes said: "London is a fantastic backdrop for major events and in my sport of athletics, the London Marathon has shown this for many years.

 

"The city embraces great events and, as we have seen with the marathon and competitions at Crystal Palace over the years, the Great British public become actively involved to create an incredible spectacle for event organisers, sponsors and competitors alike."

 

Chris Hoy, Britain's triple gold medal winning cyclist, said; "London is truly a great stage for international sporting events.

 

"This was wonderfully demonstrated in my own sport of cycling last year when the city hosted the start of the Tour de France.

 

"To see my teammate, Bradley Wiggins, taking part in front of over two million people on the streets of the capital was amazing for my sport.

 

"A truly great example of a city hosting an international event."

 

Johnson once again acknowledged what a spectacular Olympics that Beijing had put on by quoting the American journalist Joseph Lincoln Steffens, who when visiting the Soviet Union in 1921 declared: "I've seen the future and it works."

 

Adding his own twist the Mayor acknowledged that London will have to strive hard to match it but was optimistic that London could rise to the challenge.

 

Johnson said: "I've seen the future and it works.

 

" However, with British ingenuity in design, its flair and sheer capability, I am supremely confident we can match what has been achieved in Beijing and build on it."

 

Johnson also highlighted what he claimed is London’s unique strengths in hosting pre-Games training camps in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics.

 

He said: “London boasts many world-class facilities that will be able to host pre-Games training camps as well as the events for the London Games.

 

"I hope that in the run up to 2012 and for many years to come, athletes will come to London to use the facilities we have on offer, to train and to compete.”

 

London has 94 accredited Pre-Games Training Camp venues providing for a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic sports ranging from world class athletics facilities at Brunel and St Mary’s University, to the historic York Hall, home of former world champion boxer Lennox Lewis and Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison.