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London 2012 'to be greenest ever' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The London 2012 Olympics are to be the greenest games in history, organisers have said. | |
With 2,012 days to go, the body in charge of construction and design said it would champion low waste, low carbon emissions and green transportation. | |
Prime Minister Tony Blair said London 2012 could become a "cutting edge example of sustainability". | |
The government though is expected to be criticised for its handling of finances in an MPs' report due out on Wednesday. | |
Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said: "Ensuring a sustainable approach to building the Games will help ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action, but also as the greenest games to date." | |
Better than Sydney | |
The ODA claims it will cut emissions to 50% by generating energy on the site and renewable energy. | |
It also said about 90% of the demolition materials will be reused or recycled and at least 20% of materials used in permanent venues and residential areas would be recycled. | |
And half of the construction materials will be transported to the Olympic Park by rail and water. | |
Walking, cycling and public transport will be promoted as the best ways to get to the events. | |
London Olympic Organising chairman Lord Coe and Mr Blair responded to the strategy in a joint podcast. | |
We are in very secure territory Lord Coe | |
Lord Coe said London was trying to produce a better example of green and sustainable Games than the much-praised Sydney 2000 Games. | |
The green strategy however could be overshadowed by Wednesday's report by MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. | |
It is expected to call for a cap on lottery spending on the event which is currently set at £1.5bn for building and staging the event. | |
Earlier this month, the government indicated it may dip into National Lottery funds to make up for the shortfall in the final budget. | |
It accepted such a decision would mean loss of income to non-Olympic good causes but said the benefits of staging the games will far outstrip the costs. | It accepted such a decision would mean loss of income to non-Olympic good causes but said the benefits of staging the games will far outstrip the costs. |
The costs of building venues for the games has risen by more than £900m to £3.3bn but there is no indication yet how the funding gap will be bridged. | |
Lord Coe said that research showed support in London for the Games was at its highest. | |
"We are in very secure territory," he told BBC One's Breakfast. | |
He added that the government was carrying out a "careful examination" of costs and it was right have these discussions now, rather than years after the Games. |