LONDON, April 21 (UPI) -- The International Olympic Committee Friday commended organizers of the London 2012 games for their early progress in an "ambitious and visionary project."
Following the IOC Coordination Commission's first inspection of the Olympic site since London's bid victory last July, Chairman Denis Oswald said he was confident the London organizing committee would deliver what they had promised.
"London's project is ambitious and visionary, but as sporting people we admire this ambition and look forward to playing our part in London's Olympic journey," he told a press conference in the city.
Oswald praised the speed with which London had embarked upon construction projects, compared with 2004 host Athens where organizational problems caused extensive delays.
"Since its election last July, LOCOG (London's organizing committee) has demonstrated the energy and excitement that this project is bringing to the city and the country," he said.
Commenting on what they had seen during their two-day visit, Oswald said he was impressed by developments for the indoor arena at the Millenium Dome, and the near completion of a major project to bury electricity cables on the site of the Olympic Park.
"There must be a balance between your ambitions and your resources but I think in the case of London they certainly have the resources, the people and the technical ability to achieve what they have promised," he said.
Asked if the much-publicized delays with the construction of the new Wembley Stadium had worried the IOC, Oswald said that because of the city's early progress the commission had "no fear" that the Olympic sites would not be completed on schedule.
The Coordination Commission will visit London twice a year following the next planned inspection in 2007.
