2012 marathon chief resigns
Source: Agencies |
April 6, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE organizer of the 2012 Olympic marathon has resigned after falling out with London Games officials.
David Bedford, a former British distance runner who is also race director of the annual London Marathon, left his role assisting the Olympic organizing committee, or LOCOG, in January after a series of disagreements.
"He took the decision in light of his frustrations about LOCOG's approach to event management," London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said. "We are very disappointed and very much regret that he doesn't want to work on these events. He's got great knowledge and has great skills at putting on events."
But London Olympic organizers stressed that the 61-year-old Bedford's resignation will not affect the contract with the company that stages the annual marathon. Bedford, who broke Lasse Viren's 10,000 meter world record in 1973, was employed to work around one day each week on Olympic planning. "London Marathon is continuing to work with LOCOG in a close and harmonious manner," Bitel said. "We wouldn't work with them unless they could deliver superb events."
Bedford announced his resignation in an interview with the London Evening Standard. "I quit my role," Bedford said. "(London Marathon) are a professional business run by professionals and it was very difficult to work for another organization who in the main have never organized an event of their own."
Organizers dispute claims that the dispute centered on the arrangements for the marathon test event on May 30.
"This was Dave Bedford's own decision," London's Olympic body said. "It hasn't affected the strong working relationship that the London Marathon has with LOCOG."
David Bedford, a former British distance runner who is also race director of the annual London Marathon, left his role assisting the Olympic organizing committee, or LOCOG, in January after a series of disagreements.
"He took the decision in light of his frustrations about LOCOG's approach to event management," London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said. "We are very disappointed and very much regret that he doesn't want to work on these events. He's got great knowledge and has great skills at putting on events."
But London Olympic organizers stressed that the 61-year-old Bedford's resignation will not affect the contract with the company that stages the annual marathon. Bedford, who broke Lasse Viren's 10,000 meter world record in 1973, was employed to work around one day each week on Olympic planning. "London Marathon is continuing to work with LOCOG in a close and harmonious manner," Bitel said. "We wouldn't work with them unless they could deliver superb events."
Bedford announced his resignation in an interview with the London Evening Standard. "I quit my role," Bedford said. "(London Marathon) are a professional business run by professionals and it was very difficult to work for another organization who in the main have never organized an event of their own."
Organizers dispute claims that the dispute centered on the arrangements for the marathon test event on May 30.
"This was Dave Bedford's own decision," London's Olympic body said. "It hasn't affected the strong working relationship that the London Marathon has with LOCOG."
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