London 2012 Olympic has an ambitious and visionary project and it has been able to keep up the momentum of its work since its winning bid last year, International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordination Commission Chairman Denis Oswald said on Friday.

"We are especially delighted by the fact that London has really understood the ethos of the Olympic Games and the Olympic values, whereby the Games are a vehicle and catalyst for development and provide a platform to educate society through sport," Oswald said at a news conference after the end of the commission's two-day visit to London.

"London's project is ambitious and visionary, but as sporting people we admire this ambition and look forward to playing our part in London's Olympic journey," he said.

"The IOC, as the ultimate guardian of the Olympic Games, is very proud to guide the London 2012 organizers through the preparation and implementation of Olympic Games that will transform the local landscape physically, socially and economically," he added.

Oswald also praised the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for its contribution into Games preparations.

"The very professional approach that LOCOG has shown us during this visit and during my previous visits to London, since its election last July, has demonstrated the energy and excitement that this project is bringing to the city and the country," said he.

"What is particularly encouraging is the way in which the London team has been thinking about all aspects of Games preparation and planning, and how each area of the project is intrinsically linked," said he.

Commenting on what the commission saw during the venue tour, Oswald said, "we were able to see the first, early signs of the huge transformation that will follow, when we saw the work being done to bury electricity cables in the Stratford area. Developments for the indoor arena at the Millennium Dome were also encouraging and exciting."

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe told the reporters at the news conference that the Coordination Commission visit had provided an important opportunity for London Olympic organizers to demonstrate progress made in planning for the Games, highlighting commitments to delivering a lasting legacy of community and sporting benefits from hosting the Games.

The IOC sent a 17-strong inspection team to London on Thursday, the first close-up view of London's preparations for the 2012 Games since the city's victorious bid last July.

During their visit, the commission received progress reports on London's preparations for the 2012 Olympic Game, and visited the site of the Olympic Park in London's East End and several venue sites.

The next visit of the Coordination Commission to London will take place in 2007.

Source: Xinhua