Inspectors on London venues tour  
  
Inspection - day one:
Coe's promise
Gossip: Stories from London
Photos from the inspection 
The team inspecting London's 2012 Olympics bid is nearing the end of its tour of the city's sporting landmarks on day two of their visit to the city. 
The 16-strong team began the day by driving through the tunnel that will link Kings Cross and Stratford when the Channel Tunnel rail link is complete. 

The inspectors then visited the main site in Stratford that will host the Olympic Stadium and aquatics centre. 

They also saw other venues, including Wimbledon, Lord's and Wembley. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates arriving by coach at Stratford were met by the likes of bid chairman Lord Coe and ambassadors Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent. 

"The presentations have gone extremely well so far and the evaluation committee seem to be taking the message on board," Redgrave told BBC Radio Five Live. 

"I think they'll leave with even stronger views that London is a fantastic city and can host the Games." 

With the area still something of a building site, the inspectors were shown a model of the planned finished article as well as being guided around the development. 

 LONDON VENUES 
Main Olympic Park around Stratford, east London
Athletes' village on same site

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Other venues include: 
Lord's (archery)
Wimbledon (tennis)
Hyde Park (triathlon)
Regent's Park (baseball)
Wembley (football)
Millennium Dome (gymnastics)
Horse Guards Parade 
(beach volleyball)
In-depth guide  

After the morning visit, the IOC team split into three groups for the tour of the venues that the London bid team hopes will host the sporting action in 2012. 

Some of the delegates visited the famous Wembley stadium, currently being reconstructed to open in 2006 where bid ambassadors including England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton were on hand. 

"It's a very difficult job that they have," Charlton told BBC News 24. 

"They have to be moving all the time. We had a lunch today that lasted five minutes - that's the pace they've set themselves." 

Meanwhile, other inspectors visited the Millennium Dome alongside London mayor Ken Livingstone and took in a game of basketball. 

At Wimbledon - which would, of course, hold the tennis - ball-boys and girls formed a guard of honour for members of the IOC team on their arrival at SW19. 

'Home Stay' initiative 

Thursday's itinerary also included time for the IOC team to receive presentations on the environment and accommodation. 

One of those presentations was on the proposed 'Home Stay' programme, in which thousands of people would have the chance to offer free accommodation to families of Olympic athletes if London hosts the Games. 

Simon Clegg, British Olympic Association chief executive, said: "This worked very well in Sydney and proved to be very popular. 

"We will try and match up people's cultural and sporting interests and language skills to offer a unique cultural experience for athletes families visiting London." 

Mike Lee, London 2012 communications director, added: "Because of the nature of the communities here, every national Olympic committee will have its own community here." 

  
Profiles: Who are the inspectors? 

However, the IOC delegation could still ask to depart from the carefully-rehearsed route prepared for them by the London bid team. 

On day one, Coe emphasised the compact nature of London's bid with promises that 80% of Olympic athletes and 98% of Paralympians will have less than a 20-minute journey from accommodation to venue. 

Several of the venues will be designed so they can be relocated to other parts of the UK after the Games. 

"The revolutionary design of several of London's purpose-built Olympic venues will enable them to be relocated to anywhere in Britain following the Games," said Coe. 

"It will ensure the whole of the UK shares in the Olympic experience and benefits from its legacy." 

On Friday, the committee will visit Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair and opposition leader Michael Howard before hearing a presentation on security from Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair. 

That will be followed by a dinner at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Queen and Prince Phillip - the single "social" occasion allowed under IOC guidelines. 

The London bid will then make a presentation on culture and multi-culturalism on Saturday before Coe's farewell speech. 

 
