The Knight of the Olympics is upon us :: Wessex Scene Online

The Knight of the Olympics is upon us

26th February 2007

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Jan 07 - Penn shooting to the top
Apr 07 - Robertson back on course down river to Gold
May 10 - Top Ten British Sporting History
Nov 09 - London 2012:
Oct 07 - The Man, the Mission, the Cabinet Position

In less than six years time Britain will play host to arguably the greatest sporting spectacle on Earth, an event that brings over 200 countries together: the 2012 Olympic Games. Since it was announced that London had won the bid on July 6 2005, much controversy has surrounded how and whether we can make a success of this opportunity; the Wessex Scene’s Faye Dickson spoke to five-times Olympic Champion Sir Steve Redgrave about what hosting the Olympics means to Britain and its athletes, and how as Southampton University students, YOU can get involved:

What made you decide to get involved with London’s bid to host the Olympic Games?
I am passionate about the Olympics and to be able to host the Games in this country is fantastic, not just for sport, but because it will bring a sense of pride to the British people. It will create a lot of jobs, increase tourism, and instigate much needed regeneration to the East End of London, which will be the gateway to regeneration elsewhere. A much needed Olympic sport legacy will be left, not just in London but across the country. The regions of the UK have an opportunity to upgrade their sporting facilities for their communities by trying to host preparation camps for teams prior to the Games (see back page for exciting news of Southampton’s involvement in this field - ed). I first got involved in 2000 where I made the team a total of four people.

What was your most memorable moment of the Olympic bid campaign?
Jacques Rogge opening the envelope and announcing London had won.

You were president of the 2006 World Rowing Championships hosted by Britain at Dorney Lake last summer. How can Britain match the success of this event across the board at London 2012?
From now through to the Olympics itself, Olympic venues will be hosting World Championships or major events as test events for the Olympic Games. There is huge enthusiasm for each sport and from London Oraganisng Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) to make these a success, not just for the Games but for British sport in general. The Rowing World Championships was just one of these events. Rowing will have another World Cup and Junior Championships before 2012.

Do you wish you had had the opportunity to compete in the Olympics in your own country?
Yes, when you first get involved in a sport at the highest level you think it would be nice to compete around the world. When you see this first hand and the changes and enthusiasm of the host country I think to be part of an Olympic Team has to be fantastic; I would have loved the opportunity to compete on home soil.

Should this affect the British team’s performance?
It will definitely help the British athletes because the enthusiasm has already started. It’s not just about the two weeks of the Games, it’s about preparation, it’s about enthusiasm and unfortunately it’s about finance. By hosting a Games there is more money for the host team to prepare for it. We won’t do this as well as the Chinese or most other countries who have the Games, but we will be prepared better than any other British Olympic team competing at a Games so far.

What advice would you give to students hoping to get involved in London 2012?
To be part of the Olympic family will be an amazing experience, from competing through to the volunteers programme. The volunteers are the making and breaking of an Olympics: the athletes, the officials and spectators first interface is with the volunteers so the quality of the volunteers is paramount to the success. I have great confidence that we will continue and enhance this aspect of the Olympic Games. If you look back at other host cities there is immense pride of being a volunteer at the Games. Volunteers don’t only come from the host country: there are other students and young people that get involved from other countries.