Olympic village on track

"The sportive, knightly battle awakens the best human characteristics. It doesn't separate, but unites the combatants in understanding and respect. It also helps to connect the countries in the spirit of peace. That's why the Olympic Flame should never die.”

(- Guess who said that?)

The International Olympic Committee inspectors yesterday awarded London 2012 organisers top marks for their preparations - and for their logo as well.

Denis Oswald, the IOC's co-ordination commission chairman, delivered a report at the end of a three-day visit which could hardly have been more glowing.

He told a news conference: "The IOC have been very impressed with what we have seen this week. There is an excellent team in place who work together with real spirit.

"Operationally and financially they are on track. We don't have any specific area of concern and compared to other organising committees, London is on time and on track. We consider London will be a model for future host cities," he said after three days of presentations and tours.

Oswald continued: "We have no reason to doubt the legacy will be a success because the two things are linked. We need regeneration to make the Olympic Park, and to have the sporting success we need the Olympic Park. If it's a sporting success, it will automatically leave a legacy. The vision outlined in Singapore is still there."

Oswald also gave his full backing for the logo unveiled by the London organising committee last week to a storm of criticism. Prime Minister Tony Blair added to the debate yesterday saying it was either "brilliant or awful - but which it is, I'm hopeless at telling these things."

Oswald said: "I love it. It's very simple, we had a presentation about two months ago before it became public. When I came back I phoned the IOC president to report and the first thing I told him is they have a fantastic logo, very young, very dynamic with flexibility about how it can be used.

"It reflects what London wants to do with the Games in 2012."

(The quote at the top? That was, the, er, German Chancellor, in 1936, Adolf Hitler).