London 2012: IOC chief Jaques Rogge 'very happy' with Games
London has held a "fabulous" Olympics, enabling athletes to "make history", the president of the International Olympic Committee has said.
Jacques Rogge thanked the organisers Locog for their efforts saying "I am a very happy and grateful man". He added that "nothing fundamental" had gone wrong at the Games, but said the IOC would review ticket allocations ahead of Rio in 2016. London's Olympic Games end with the closing ceremony at 21:00 BST. Dr Rogge said it would be unfair to compare London with previous host cities but that he will deliver his final assessment of the Games during a speech tonight. During the joint press conference with Olympic organisers Locog, Dr Rogge also praised the British public for embracing the Games in an "exceptional" way. 'Minor issues' He also thanked the volunteers and military and praised the transport system around the capital. But the IOC president said his team would look at some "minor issues" that could be improved in time for the Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Among them would be a review into how tickets are allocated, after some problems emerged in London. "The sale of tickets is a very difficult issue," Dr Rogge said. "A balance must be struck between the home country and the rest of the world." He insisted however that the venues were full. The chairman of Locog, Lord Coe, said he was pleased that the IOC was happy with an "uplifting and energising" London 2012. "London promised an athletes' Games and that's exactly what we got," Dr Rogge said. "History has been written by many, many athletes - the double treble of Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Sir Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslie, Andy Murray winning his first major title... I could go on." He said his defining image of London 2012 was Sir Chris Hoy's tears of joy on the podium, after winning the keirin track cycling event. The gold was Sir Chris's second of the Games and sixth in total, which along with a previous silver medal made the Scotsman Britain's most successful Olympian. Lord Coe said his enduring memory would be the British public's enthusiasm and support. He said spectators turned the stadia into "theatres of sport". IOC chief Dr Rogge added that the challenge for British sport in the aftermath of the Games is to "continue to surf the wave" of success, and insisted long term investment was needed. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister David Cameron announced Lord Coe is to become the Olympics legacy ambassador and will advise the government on the best ways to secure long-term benefits for the UK.