In a big surprise, they picked London for the 2012 Olympics over Paris. Fuck the French!
foxsports.com
GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Wednesday's decision to award the 2012 Olympics to London as a "momentous day" for the city, but said he couldn't bear to watch the announcement on television.
"This is a momentous day for London. It's very good news," Blair said at the venue for the G-8 summit.
Blair found out the result when the switchboard at his Downing Street office in London called him.
"I couldn't bear to watch the final bit of it," he said with a wide grin. "It's not often in this job that you punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the person next to you."
London beat Paris in the final vote. Moscow, New York and Madrid had been eliminated in earlier rounds.
Blair spoke as world leaders were arriving in Gleneagles for talks on African poverty and climate change, but he admitted he was struggling to concentrate.
"I've been trying to work on the G-8 stuff but I have to say that my mind has been in two places today," Blair said.
He predicted the games would prove to be a "legacy" for both Britain and the Olympic movement, saying London's bid was strong because of the vision it provided for sports and future generations.
"London is an open, multi-racial, multireligious, multicultural city and rather proud of it," Blair said. "People of all races and nationalities mix in with each other and mix in with each other well."
He said sports facilities would remain for years to come after the games, which the prime minister said would stress the importance of sports for youth and society.
Blair flew to Scotland from Singapore where he and others had worked for 48 hours to secure their bid.
The prime minister was expected to meet later in the day with Jacques Chirac — but said he would go easy on him.
"Britain must be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat," Blair said.
Blair brushed aside suggestions that the defeat for Paris would mean that Chirac would be less cooperative going into diplomatic discussions on Africa or climate change. "Of course, there are four heads of government around the table whose countries were bidding," he said. "In respect of France, on Africa and climate change we are working very closely together.
foxsports.com
GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Wednesday's decision to award the 2012 Olympics to London as a "momentous day" for the city, but said he couldn't bear to watch the announcement on television.
"This is a momentous day for London. It's very good news," Blair said at the venue for the G-8 summit.
Blair found out the result when the switchboard at his Downing Street office in London called him.
"I couldn't bear to watch the final bit of it," he said with a wide grin. "It's not often in this job that you punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the person next to you."
London beat Paris in the final vote. Moscow, New York and Madrid had been eliminated in earlier rounds.
Blair spoke as world leaders were arriving in Gleneagles for talks on African poverty and climate change, but he admitted he was struggling to concentrate.
"I've been trying to work on the G-8 stuff but I have to say that my mind has been in two places today," Blair said.
He predicted the games would prove to be a "legacy" for both Britain and the Olympic movement, saying London's bid was strong because of the vision it provided for sports and future generations.
"London is an open, multi-racial, multireligious, multicultural city and rather proud of it," Blair said. "People of all races and nationalities mix in with each other and mix in with each other well."
He said sports facilities would remain for years to come after the games, which the prime minister said would stress the importance of sports for youth and society.
Blair flew to Scotland from Singapore where he and others had worked for 48 hours to secure their bid.
The prime minister was expected to meet later in the day with Jacques Chirac — but said he would go easy on him.
"Britain must be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat," Blair said.
Blair brushed aside suggestions that the defeat for Paris would mean that Chirac would be less cooperative going into diplomatic discussions on Africa or climate change. "Of course, there are four heads of government around the table whose countries were bidding," he said. "In respect of France, on Africa and climate change we are working very closely together.
