Syndey 2000 chief impressed by 2012 progress

One of the key figures of the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 has been so impressed with the start London 2012 has made to the 'big, tough, ugly, project' that he believes the Games here could become the greatest.

It is widely regarded that Sydney set the benchmark for how an Olympics should be staged: from quality of stadia, to the warmth of the volunteers, to the ambiance of the setting and to the smooth running of the whole operation.

A mastermind behind that success was Sandy Hollway, the Chief Executive of Sydney 2000, who this week paid a flying visit to see London's progress and speak to members of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

He returned home to Australia contented that in six years time no longer will people just insist that Sydney was the best.

"There is so much positive you can see from London at such an early stage," said Hollway. "Even now with the planning, to the personnel, to the security...London has made a better start than Sydney did and we achieved an outstanding result.

"I have been impressed with the organising committee, the Olympic Delivery Authority, in the way things are happening such as the Olympic Law being passed to provide transport plans, and from the whole feel of the project. London provided such a detailed document in its bid - and it has really hit the ground running."

Even now, wander through the Stratford area and the cranes are in place as the work unfolds on the spectacular project which will turn one of the most run downs areas in Britain into the centre of the sporting world - with a legacy which could last generations.

Hollway said: "When I think to 2012, and the regeneration which will take place, there is a capacity in the British to put on a great event. But there is more: the whole community will realise that this is their event, they will take to it - like the people in Sydney did - and it will all be happening in one of the great cities of the world."

Since 2000 Hollway, a resident of Sydney, has been consultant to many of the world's leading sporting events, such as the tremendously successful Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last month, and members of London 2012 were told that the key to producing memorable occasions is to be confident, but never be arrogant.

"Staging great sporting events is a fantastic achievement," said Hollway. "But it does not just happen. And if you think it does, then that is where the problems start. It is a big, tough, ugly project but it is wonderful. Yet every week between now and 2012 has to be used to strive ahead.

"It could be easy to become suffocated by the complacency that there is six years to go. Yet you cannot afford to lose those years. My best advice would be to have an attitude of confidence, but no arrogance. Complacency is death, so instead you have to worry the project to death."

Sydney became such a great Games because every contigency was considered, and there was no area that could be faulted. London is determined to do the same and Hollway is delighted by that.

"It is pleasing for me that London has been keen to use the Sydney model, so if London does surpass us, then we will feel we have a role in giving London a leg up," he said.

"Learning from one Games to another is something which must be done."