Steve Backley On The 2012 Olympics

In the week that the tickets went on sale to the 2012 London Olympics who better to speak to about the looming competition than the only British track and field competitor to win medals at three different Olympic Games, Steve Backley.

We had a chat with the former world record holder Javelin thrower at the London premiere for the new animated film ‘HOP’.

Dismissing the complaints by many that the tickets are too expensive, Backley declared:

“I actually think the tickets are too cheap...they range from £20 and go up to £2000 so that kind of touches everyone. People pay £60-£70 to go to a game of football, this is the Olympics. You’re paying £20 to see the greatest athletes in the world.”

“I would encourage anyone to find a way to see the Games. It’s live on TV, there will be screens all over London; you don’t have to pay £20, you can watch it for free and still be involved and feel the buzz.”

Speaking about how the London Games will compare with the previous Games in Beijing, Backley said:

“It will be very different to Beijing. Beijing was a lot of icing on a relatively small cake, and I think London will be less icing, as due to what has happened economically since 2008 it wouldn’t be appropriate to have the glitz and glamour Beijing had. However, I think we’ll have a big cake.”

When asked who are his tips to be Britain’s big stars, Backley, who himself won two silvers and a bronze at the Olympic Games, answered:

“The obvious answers are Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley, however I think a couple to look out for are Jodie Williams in the 200m, Dai Greene in the 400m Hurdles and Perri Shakes-Drayton, who has now come of age.”