Medal haul boosts London 2012 - Rogge

12 April 2012

Britain's medal success in Beijing has been a powerful boost for the 2012 Games in London, according to International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

The importance of having a strong host team in London was underlined by Rogge, who believes Britain will be able to do even better than the 19 golds and 47 total medals that secured fourth place in the table.

Rogge told a news conference in Beijing: "The British team is ready and that's important because we want a powerful and successful home team to foster the enthusiasm of the whole population. That has been achieved four years beforehand and they will be able to improve even on that."

Rogge warned however that London faces a tough task to match Beijing, which has had spectacular ceremonies, more than a million volunteers and unprecedented control over areas such as transport, labour, resources and security.

Rogge said: "It's clear that China has put the bar very high and it's going to be a challenge for London and also for all the subsequent Games.

"I believe and I hope that London can put the bar even higher so that we have consistent improvement and evolution of the Olympic Games."

The IOC president said he was confident that London could step up to the mark by concentrating on different aspects.

He added: "I believe London has unique assets. Athens was returning to the roots, to the country that invented the Olympic Games. China was the most populous country in the world.

"London is the capital city of the country that has invented modern sport, that has invented the rules of the sports and the values of fair play.

"It is a cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic and multi-religious city and that's something they can build on. The rest have no concerns. The venues will be fine, the village will be fine, the organisation will be fine."

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