Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, leapt for joy on hearing the news that London had been selected as the host country for 2012 Olympic Games, he said: "This is fantastic news, I am thrilled! The Olympic Games will be the single greatest sporting event that the UK and London have ever seen. It is an excellent opportunity for our young people to take part in something unique in their lifetime. There are many talented young athletes in our borough who may be members of the British 2012 team - as shown by our recent successes at the London Youth Games. To see these youngsters competing on their home soil will be a proud day for us all and the whole of Lewisham will be cheering them on!
The impact the games will have will be clearly visible through the provision of thousands of jobs, increased transport networks, providing a platform to showcase our cultural diversity and the creation of new sporting facilities. Lewisham will reap the benefits of the games for many years. As a gateway for participants and visitors, with events taking place on our doorstep, it will create a real buzz about the place."