LONDON (AP) — The IOC wants London organizers to make sure the opening ceremony of next year’s Olympics finishes by midnight so athletes can return to the village at a reasonable hour.
IOC coordination commission chairman Denis Oswald says arrangements should also be made to allow athletes to leave before the end of the ceremony.
Some athletes at recent Olympic opening ceremonies have complained they have to stand for hours as the show ran over the scheduled time. Thousands of athletes from more than 200 countries will be marching into London’s Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012.
Many athletes choose not to take part in the ceremony, especially those competing on the following day.
London organizing committee CEO Paul Deighton says athletes should have no problem because the village is located next to the Olympic Park.
