JOIN USFredericks, part of a week-long International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspection visit, said London’s 80,000-seater stadium, which has taken three years to build, ranked alongside any he raced in.
“It’s a perfect stadium for track and field... it’s a great, great stadium,” the Namibian, who was runner-up in 100 and 200 metres in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, said as he stood astride a chalk line on the black tarmac to mark the finish on the track that will be installed later this year.
“I remember when Michael Johnson beat me in Atlanta in the 200M and broke the world record and I’m sure he was inspired by the stadium,” Fredericks said. “I hope that will be the case again with the athletes competing in London. I’m sure it will.”
Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman John Armitt said the stadium had come in under budget at 486 million pounds ($776.7 million), although that figure is still far higher than the 280 million quoted in London's original bid document.
Britain's Natasha Danvers, 400M hurdles silver medallist in Beijing, who helped put the finishing touches to the infield said she was excited at the prospect of competing in front of a home crowd.