Millennium Stadium : Lord Coe visits the Millennium Stadium

Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee Lord Sebastian Coe talks to WRU Chairman David Pickering at the Millennium Stadium

Ben Evans

Lord Coe visits the Millennium Stadium

1 July 2008, 10:05 am

By Simon Rimmer

Lord Sebastian Coe, chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, visited the Welsh capital today to look in on the Millennium Stadium, as one of the official Olympic soccer venues.

The former British athletics superstar was in town to catch-up with Welsh Rugby Union officials who run the Cardiff venue now famous throughout world football as a premium match venue, with a host of top international and club matches having graced its playing surface since opening in 1999.

“One of our stated aims is to bring the London 2012 Olympics to the whole of the UK and to ensure that the entire nation reaps the benefits,” said Lord Coe.

“Everyone in World sport knows what a fantastic venue the Millennium Stadium is and I have been here many times before myself.

“As a Chelsea fan I’ve had some happy times and some unhappy ones and remember losing to Arsenal here in the FA Cup final, but we also had two good wins in the Carling Cup!

“I was here for the official opening at the Rugby World Cup in 1999 and we are all very much looking forward to bringing Olympic football to town in 2012.”