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London Olympic Bid Team Devastated by News Of Bombings


Olympic officials say the explosions in London will not affect the decision to hold the Games in the British capital in 2012.

The officials behind London's Olympic bid, which defeated Paris in Wednesday's vote by the International Olympic Committee, were celebrating in Singapore Thursday when they heard of the blasts back home.

The chief executive of London's bid team, Keith Mills, says the delegation is shocked by the news.

"It is terribly unfortunate in terms of timing and sadly our celebration will have to be put on hold," said Mr. Mills. "Our thoughts go out to the families and relatives who have been affected. And I hope the security services could get to the bottom of this as soon as possible."

The mayor of London, Ken Livingston, was part of the bid team in Singapore.

"I want to say one thing, specifically to the world today, this was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful, this was not aimed to a president or a prime minister," he said. "It was aimed at ordinary working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old."

A spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee says the decision to award the games to London was not in question. She says the IOC has "full confidence" that the British authorities will be able to provide a secure environment during the 2012 Games.

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