London 2012 marathon to be run in central London

LONDON — London 2012 organizers announced Monday that the Olympic marathon will start and finish in front of Buckingham Palace and include three loops of central London. The race will start on The Mall with a 2.2-mile circuit of St. James' Park before three 8-mile loops past landmarks, including St. Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye and the Bank of England. The race will only go as far east as the Tower of London despite protests by residents and lawmakers against the decision to move the route away from the Olympic Stadium and the east of the city. London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said the route was moved to avoid gridlocked streets on what will be one of the busiest days of the Olympics. "This is one of the hardest decisions we have had to take," Coe said. "Our prime objective as the organizing committee has to be to deliver venues and events that work for the athletes, spectators, and for the host city — venues that provide the best possible way of keeping the city moving, minimizing disruption for everyone and, critically, getting the athletes and spectators to the venues on time. "We are confident that the new route is the best way to do this." Residents and several lawmakers protested at the switch because they said it would deny those living in the poorer east of the city the opportunity to see an Olympic event. Coe said the organizing committee had agreed with local government to widen opportunities in those areas for residents to take part in the London Games. "We realize that this may be disappointing," Coe said. "(But) the vast majority of the sporting action will take place in the Olympic Park in the heart of east London and the brand new sporting facilities and new housing we leave behind after the games will be transformational for east London." – AP