Olympics
Coventry urged to back 2012 Olympic Games

Buy photos » London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games chief executive Paul Deighton with other officials and the girls football team from President Kennedy School. 05.012.041.cov.jg3

THE chief executive of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOGOC) has urged the people of Coventry to embrace the Olympic Games when they visit the city this summer.

On Tuesday Paul Deighton and a host of LOCOG representatives visited the Ricoh Arena - due to be renamed the City of Coventry Stadium for the summer - to check out the facilities.

And he said from what he saw the city was ready to host one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.

"This is a really terrific venue. We have the football test event coming here in April and the venue is in great shape," said Mr Deighton.

"The Games will turbo charge this facility with an event which has worldwide recognition.

Coventry has really embraced these Games, and it is a perfect example of a city grasping the nettle and saying ‘we don’t know when this will happen again, so let’s make the most of it'.

"It’s hard to put a number on the value of the Games to the city, but it will have a pretty significant economic impact."

Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the City of Coventry Stadium, added: "Everything is firmly on track for the opening matches which will be a double-header of women’s football on July 25.

"It feels like we are within touching distance now as we enter the final few months of planning for London 2012.

"It is fantastic to see that all the hard work behind the scenes is coming to fruition and this is an exciting time for everyone involved in the only Midlands venue to be staging Olympic events."

Tickets to the Olympic Football Tournament are on sale until February 6 from tickets.london2012.com.