Headlines in the UK’s Sunday Observer newspaper screamed “London’s Torch Goes Out” and “London’s Olympic Dream In Tatters”. The paper reported that key members of the bidding team had said “London has in effect abandoned hope of winning the 2012 Olympic Games, because it is so far behind Paris”.
One unnamed board member is quoted as saying Paris had taken an unassailable lead in the bidding process while a second stated that morale among the top brass had plummeted.
Mike Lee, London 2012’s director of communications, described the pessimism from within the bid as “nonsense”. He said the mood is upbeat and confident.
Culture secretary Tessa Jowell also dismissed the story and claimed those involved in the London campaign believe the race for the 2012 Games was still wide open.
Bid chairman Sebastian Coe said he was astonished by the report, adding that that recent discussions with all 22 of the bid’s board members had not revealed any disenchantment.
