2012 marathon decision 'lets down' east London

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions

I first heard about 2012's plans to take the marathon races away from east London and stage them around Buckingham Palace in mid-July.

I trusted the well-informed person who told me 'off the record' but I didn't run the story straight away for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, nobody would confirm this on the record and I needed that to make the story credible on the BBC.

Secondly, and more importantly, I thought it might just be what they call a kite-flying exercise. Throwing a wacky idea out there and waiting for a reaction.

Surely London 2012 organisers wouldn't be stupid enough to insult east Londoners in such a way, the people whose lives are being disrupted the most by the Games?

For many of them from less privileged backgrounds, having the marathon on their streets may be the only connection they can afford with the Games.

Well, I admit, I called it all wrong. I should have run the story because it has turned out to be true. 2012 really are that daft.

They won't finish the races in the olympic stadium like most of the six summer games I have attended. The Athens races finished in the 1896 Olympic Stadium.

The 2012 marathons will include three circuits around central London, starting and finishing on the Mall. I understand their logic. They want to show off London's great landmarks to the world and the big TV executives from America and Asia will love it, like they always do. Parts of east London, where the route would have gone, are scruffy but what an opportunity to tidy them up?

2012 still won't confirm all this and they haven't got all the approval yet from the athletics authorities. East London councils are trying to get them to change their minds but the races will stay in central London, I'm sure.

I just had a belief from all their talk that London 2012 wanted to put on a different sort of Games which highlighted all aspects of London and British life.

It was na�ve, of course. 2012 won't be different. They are doing what every Games does - playing to the international TV cameras and not to the locals.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adrianwarner/2010/09/2012_marathon_decision_lets_do.html

Gyorgy Sarosi Pat Jennings Giacinto Facchetti Raymond Kopa