Monday, 6 August 2012

Over five million Games spectators in first week

Huge numbers of fans have already enjoyed London 2012 action in person, with over five million people having already attended events.
Following the middle weekend of the London 2012 Games the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) have confirmed that more than five million spectators have attended events at venues thus far.
More than a million fans have already visited the Olympic Park whilst LOCOG’s official website apparently received 25 million visits on Saturday alone – the day that Team GB set the Olympic Games alight with three golds in a magical athletics session in the Olympic Stadium and won three further gold medals elsewhere.
Meanwhile, beyond the main competition venues, big screens across the UK are attracting massive crowds as people cheer on the competing athletes. Again Saturday alone saw around 300,000 visitors watching Olympic sport on live screens in city centre locations around the country and it was estimated that 60,000 spectators came out on to the streets around Hyde Park to watch the Women’s Triathlon event in central London.
Across the Games, more than 400 medals have already been won by athletes from 58 countries. In addition 85 Olympic records, including 32 world records, have been set.
‘The most pleasing part of the first week of the Games has been feedback from athletes and team officials who have said they have rarely, if ever, witnessed sport that has been so well presented, attended or so compelling,’ stated LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe. ‘Our vision has always been to stage Games for the athletes, and we are thrilled that we have been able to deliver an electrifying and uplifting experience and environment for the best athletes of the world’.
LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton thanked fans for the impact they are having, adding, ‘The stars of the Games so far are the athletes and we are delighted to give them the stage to shine on, but they are telling us the stars are the crowds – their passion and the atmosphere they are creating is just incredible.’
‘My overwhelming feeling is one of pride,’ he continued. ‘I’m very proud of the show the UK is putting on, of the tremendous performance of our athletes and I’m very proud of my team which has given its heart and soul to these Games over the last seven years.’

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