Olympics-Athletes will enjoy London 2012 village, says Edwards

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - Triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards is confident elite athletes more used to fancy hotels will have no complaints about their accommodation in the competitors' village at the 2012 London Olympics.

The 43-year-old, who is on the board of the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and chairs the Athletes' Advisory Commission, said the 11 residential blocks rising rapidly out of the dust would match any previous Games.

"This is a Games with athletes at the heart," Edwards said as the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and LOCOG presented striking images of the 2,800 apartment village that will house about 15,000 athletes in three years.

"Nothing is more crucial for the Games than the Village experience. They will have devoted four years, in many cases much more, of their lives to their sport and we must give them the best chance to fulfil their ambition."

UNIQUE VILLAGE

"The field of play, the athletics track, the tennis court is pretty much the same whether it's London or Barcelona but the village is unique. I'm very confident that this will be a very positive experience for athletes."

"My attitude when I went to the Olympics Games was that the village was something to be endured not enjoyed," added Edwards, who recalled sharing a cramped room with javelin thrower Steve Backley at the Sydney Games where the triple jumper won gold.