OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Happy man Rogge praises excellent 'athletes' Games'

By James Toney, Sportsbeat, London 2012

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has declared himself a 'happy man' as the London 2012 Games come to a conclusion.

HAPPY MAN: IOC president Jacques Rogge is delighted that London 2012 has delivered on the promise of being an athletes' Games

Rogge has steadfastly refused to follow the example of his predecessor Juan Antonio Samarach, who always used to declare each Games he presided over as the 'best Games ever'.

But he has perhaps been more effusive about London's Games than the previous summer Olympiads he was responsible for in Athens and Beijing.

"I'm a very happy and grateful man," he said. "The Games were absolutely fabulous.

"London promised an athletes' Games and that is exactly what we got. History has been written by many athletes, such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslie and Andy Murray, there are too many more to list.

"I don't compare Games - you can only give an assessment of one Games at a time.

"You'll have to wait until the closing ceremony to find out what I think about the Games but I think everyone will be pleased by what I will say.

"London has refreshed the Games in many aspects. The village has been fantastic, the venues were state of the art, the public reaction has been exceptional and the volunteers are marvellous.

"They've also thought more about sustainability and legacy than maybe other cities have in the past."

London 2012 chairman Seb Coe believes the success of the Olympics will help Great Britain attract more top international events, with the 2017 World Athletics Championships due to the staged at the Olympic Stadium.

"Britain is at the top of its game in terms of event management. We need to capitalise on everything we've witnessed here and the prime minister has asked if I can help in this process and I'm happy to do that," he said.

"It's been an extraordinary fortnight. My team are close to exhaustion but we will rally because the Paralympics are to come. I've never worked with more focused and passionate people and I never will again.

"The British people in their millions have helped deliver the Games alongside us in so many different parts of the country.

"What I've witnessed has been uplifting and energising. No city that stages the Games is ever the same afterwards."

Rogge also praised Coe's contribution but stopped short of endorsing him to succeed Lamine Diack as president of the  International Association of Athletics Federations, with Sergey Bubka also expected to run for one of sport's most powerful positions when Diack steps down in 2015.

"I hope Seb's future is as bright as possible," he added.

"He is a very skilful man."

© Sportsbeat 2012