It was a stark contrast to the post-mortem of last week's tour of New York City conducted by Olympic decisionmakers, where the focus of new development seemed to be on winning the Games. Livingstone, on the other hand, shrugged off the possibility that another city might win the Games. "We want to win the bid," he stated, "but this funding is there for future potential. The Olympics are an add-on to what we would have done in London anyway."

What is going to be done is a series of projects including additional rail lines to unify the sprawl and a continuation of affordable and market-rate housing among other initiatives. Livingstone noted that last year some 30% more housing was constructed in London than the year before. That surge is now guaranteed to continue.

Providing a good deal of color commentary to the presentation was Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who stated that often, when a Games year is over, the only "legacy left is a stadium. With funding in hand, the city is now poised to build sustainable communities, Olympics or no," he remarked.

But, of course, the promise of improved infrastructure can only help the city in the competition. Livingstone acknowledged that. "I am more confident that ever before," he concluded.

Early attendance returns are promising for Mipim, which concludes on Friday. A preliminary count puts the attendance at a record 17,600.

Instant Insights /

Mipim DISPATCH: London Mayor Unveils $19B for Infrastructure Upgrades

Related Stories

Recommended For You