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• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Thank you, Chair. The answer was very encouraging and dealt with a lot of our interests. Chair, you mentioned that we were in Brent last night for People's Question Time. The audience of several hundred people were asked what they thought was London's strongest asset. The answer, by what I think was a very substantial margin, was its people, by which I think we mean the cultural diversity and so on. If that is London's greatest strength - and I think many of us think it is - how will you be able to link that into the bid and...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Thank you very much. Can I now turn to training facilities, which we talked about earlier. I think you mentioned in your introduction that 10 boroughs will actually have sporting events taking place in them. I must say I had not realised there would be that many. What about the other 22 boroughs? Obviously, they cannot have sporting events taking place there, but what about using their facilities for teams to train at?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Perhaps I can come in as the person whose constituency actually includes Crystal Palace. Surely, it would be a pretty untenable Olympic bid that had no role for the one venue in London which is capable of dealing with grand prix athletic sports events. Can I ask again, what specific role do you envisage Crystal Palace playing a) in the run-up to the Games, b) during the Games, and c) as part of the legacy?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Do you agree that the prospect of the closure of the facility next spring provides a real risk in terms of damaging our bid or our reputation? Do you look to the various members of the GLA family to be supportive in trying to resolve this rather knotty problem? I will ask a second question, if it does not get in the way of others. You mentioned the remoteness of Crystal Palace. Does this then mean that the area I represent of Croydon and Sutton is regarded as being a place that is remote from the Olympic process? Does that...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I made the mistake of asking two questions at one time. My first question, in terms of looking to the GLA family to be supportive, and maybe make some intervention, what degree of risk do you see for our Olympic bid if Crystal Palace closes in March next year?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Just one quick point. There is an arena potentially being built in Croydon that provides one place for sports facilities, and we have many lovely hills which are good for cyclists to tackle.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I am afraid you did not, that is why I am pressing you.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I am afraid your comments sit rather ill with those of the Mayor when he visited Bromley and told both the Bromley local papers that he saw Crystal Palace as being `within the Olympic footprint'. And he went on to say `My preference is for it to be part of the Olympic site." Clearly, you and the Mayor are at variance on that one.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Well, I find that a more constructive exchange, if I may say, because it may be, Ms Cassani, that you are not aware that there has been some very constructive dialogue going on between all the parties. And the more that that is fed into your bid team the more we are likely, I suspect, to get together the sort of joined-up approach that we all want to see as far as Crystal Palace is concerned. Perhaps we can pursue it further elsewhere.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Thanks very much. As you said, you have learnt from other Games, and I am really pleased that you have said that. The Sydney Games in particular was given a bronze medal by Greenpeace for its sustainability. What medal are you going for and what medal would you be happy with in terms of sustainability for these Games?