Coe (pictured) said he also hoped the Games would help to make London a stronger city following the attacks that rocked the capital the day after it was awarded the Games.

 

“The terrible events of July 7 have only strengthened our resolve to stage a spectacular Games in 2012," he said. "Sport has the power to unite and I hope the Games in 2012 can be an element in helping to pull together and create an even stronger and more resilient London.

"We are not so much having a celebration as hopefuly reminding and engaging the people of the of the opportunity presented by the Olympics coming to London. We want to remind people of what we said in Singapore last year."

 

The Olympic event, which includes the launch of a UK-wide Games roadshow, will highlight London’s progress in planning for the Games as well as look forward to future milestones.

“The first year since winning the Games has shown that London is committed to making the most of the opportunities from staging the Games and preparations are on track,” said Coe.

 

 

 

“Planning and design has progressed well on the sports precincts and venues, particularly at the Olympic Park site, with the focus on maximizing community benefits and legacies for London and the UK as well as meeting requirements of the Games, with final land acquisition and enabling works well underway”  Coe said.

“The top priority over the past year has been to put the necessary foundations in place as early as possible to ensure that the venues and all other Games-related programmes and preparations are delivered on time so that we are able to fully maximise the benefits that come from planning and staging the Games.

“This will provide a vital legacy for the whole nation.". 

Early completion of the Olympic Park masterplan was identified by London 2012 organisers as a key first year highlight - for the first time in Olympic Games planning, venues, services and facilities have been designed from the outset around the long term needs of local communities as well as athletes and spectators at Games time.

 “We are not just creating sports venues, we are helping to regenerate and renew London communities and early completion of the masterplan enables us to start work on the design of the Park’s venues and infrastructure much sooner,” said Coe.

Coe pinpointed several areas of progress London has made since being awarded the Games. These included, he said:

 

 

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  Early introduction (nine days after the Singapore win) and ascent of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games legislation, enabling appropriate governance, organisational structures, delivery teams and Boards to be established in minimal time.

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  Anti-ambush marketing provisions also included in legislation to protect investments of official London 2012 partners and sponsors.

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  Raising the revenue to build the venues underway early - London 2012 lottery games started in July soon after winning the Bid and a new lottery draw will be launched this week.

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  Work on the Olympic Park also underway early (masterplan locked down, undergrounding of pylons; appointment of site clean up teams; 90 per cent of land acquired)

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  Games operations and legacy planning proceeding in tandem six years before Games begin – an Olympic first.

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  Great strides in some key London Games-related transport infrastructure projects - opening of new City Airport DLR; upgrading of capacity on Jubilee Line and completion of construction work on Channel Tunnel Rail Link

 

Work is also underway to ensure the benefits of the Games are properly realised. This includes securing of elite athlete funding and funds for skills and training.

"Even before we won in Singapore we knew that the first year would be crucial, with the need for prompt action on a number of fronts to make sure the 2012 project progressed smoothly and at the right pace," said the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell.

“We had to put the building blocks in place straight away to make sure that we had the right people, the right land, the right plans and the right legislation to make so many other things happen between now and 2012.

 “We have done that and the challenge now is to maintain the momentum in the next year, never letting our determination and drive slip for a minute. There's no time to waste."

Further planning to maximise the economic, social and community benefits from the Games, including thousands of new jobs, affordable housing, skills training and employment opportunities and experience, will continue to be one of highest priorities for Games organisers, Coe said.

"Since London's fantastic Olympic success in Singapore we have made excellent progress with our preparations to stage the world's greatest festival of sport and culture in 2012," said London Mayor Ken Livingstone.  

 

"We are well on schedule with our plans - both to deliver inspiring Olympic and Paralympic Games and to leave a lasting legacy for London.  Already we are seeing the first improvements in transport delivered as part of the Games preparations and there is much more to come: new homes, new jobs, new investment and new opportunities right across the city."

BOA Chairman, Colin Moynihan Chairman, said: “There could not have been a more perfect way to celebrate the British Olympic Association’s centenary in 2005 than to witness the events of July 6 when London was awarded the right to stage the 2012 Olympic Games.

“That one decision secured an entry ticket to a period of unparalleled opportunity – with a chance to raise the profile of British sport and the Olympic movement up to London 2012 and beyond.

“Progress over the last year has been impressive but should only be seen as the first mile in the Marathon. Delivering London 2012 will require meticulous attention to detail, professionalism and the ability to have a clear focus on the final prize. At the end of the Marathon we should have delivered a Games that our sportsmen and women and the rest of the country can be truly proud of”.

Priorities for the next year include further development and preparation of the Olympic Park, venues and infrastructure design and the development of the commercial programme to raise the funds to stage the Games.

“We have been approached by several companies extremely interested and excited about the opportunities to partner with the London 2012 Games," said Paul Deighton, LOCOG's chief execuitve.

 

"The Olympic and Paralympic brands together with the London brand is a powerful combination that can help a company meet its objectives and provide them with a unique competitive edge – a combination that has never been available in the UK."

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the Olympic delivery Authority said:“The delivery of the infrastructure and venues for the Games is a challenge but also a massive opportunity to make lasting change.

 

"We have made a strong start.  Games and legacy are being planned hand in hand – something that has never happened as early in Olympic planning. We have the site map finalised under a year since Singapore allowing us to move to the next stage - procuring and designing the infrastructure and venues.

 

" Later this month we will be publishing the programme timetable – the delivery route map to 2012’.  Partnership and planning will continue to be the keys to success.”