David Higgins: The man who built the 2012 Games
Sometimes the most significant developments pass many of us by because we are busy doing other things.
It is striking that the resignation of Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chief executive David Higgins only got a couple of paragraphs today in a national newspaper which has told us for years it is the voice of the Olympics. Hmmm.
I think the fuss over the and over the stopped people seeing what is a big moment in 2012's history.
Higgins, an Australian with a reputation for straight talking, has been, without doubt, the man who has driven the building of the Olympic facilities.
The politicians take the credit but Higgins is the reason the project is on time.
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I won't finish the soundbite they all use with the words "on budget" because with ubiquitous Government spending cuts ahead and rising security costs, I am not convinced the £9.3 billion budget will be enough.
But, talk to anybody associated with the Games, and they will be full of praise for Higgins, who is leaving for .
Even with many of the facilities close to being finished, the ODA will miss his guidance at a time when the budget will come under pressure in a key year for building.
He has driven the 2012 bus for more than four years and he's now jumping out before it has reached the terminus. Of course it will have an impact.
He will be replaced by the Director of Finance, Dennis Hone. Few in the 0lympic world have heard of him.
This is the equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson walking out on Manchester United as they reach the semi-finals of the Champions League to join Real Madrid. I reckon that would get a few paragraphs.
I'm 91Èȱ¬ London's Olympics Correspondent, which means I report on every aspect of the preparations for 2012. I'm going to be telling you what people are saying about London's preparations - both in the Olympic corridors of power and on the streets of the capital - and I want to hear your views.
Comment number 1.
At 29th Sep 2010, rjaggar wrote:Any reason WHY he's gone Mr Warner?
CSR implications and all that??
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