One Year countdown to London Olympics

With one year to go until the start of the 2012 London Olympics, Games organisers have been highlighting their preparedness for the world's largest sporting event.
Speaking at a recent event to welcome Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, to Canberra to address a gathering of sports administrators and Parliamentarians, Federal Minister for Sport Mark Arbib outlined the Australian Government's support of Australian Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Explaining the Federal Government's significant investment in top athletes through the Green and Gold Project, Senator Arbib said the Project was providing Olympic and Paralympic peak sporting bodies with almost $4 million in targeted funding to boost their prospects in London.
Senator Arbib stated "the Green and Gold Project is already supporting our potential Games athletes to provide the best possible training and preparationï¾the best coaching, sport science, resources and facilities.
"That funding is on top of $23.2 million per annum in new high performance funding allocated to 25 Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic Australian sporting bodies.
"As international competition continues to intensify, the Australian Government maintains committed to ensuring our athletes continue to have access to the best training, coaching, sport science and resources and facilities available."
The recent event highlighted the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the role they will play in inspiring Australians to participate in sport.
At the event Senator Arbib congratulated London and the London 2012 organisation committee on preparations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Senator Arbib added "Australia and the UK have a great history of competition and friendly rivalry at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport and London is one of the world's great cities. It is fantastic that the two will unite to celebrate the Olympic spirit.
"The event venues in London are fantastic - Road Cycling around Hampton Court, archery at Lords, tennis at Wimbledon and the triathlon in Hyde Park.
"All Australians will be glued to the TV for the two weeks. Hopefully our success and the quality of the London Olympics will inspire young Australians to get off the couch and attempt to emulate our successful athletes."