“ London has, in effect, given the opportunity for all faith communities to participate in the mainstream,” said Sacranie.

By Ahmad Maher, IOL Staff

CAIRO , July 6, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – British Muslims have played a positive role in their country’s successful efforts to host the 2012 Olympic Games, a Muslim member of the London team told IOL Wednesday, July 6.

“It is a team effort that really showed that British Muslims played a positive role and showed a clear recognition of the Muslim community in Britain,” Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and one of the London bid’s ambassadors, told IslamOnline.net over the phone from Singapore.

Joining a star-studded array of public figures and Olympians led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sacranie said he is delighted that British Muslims proved that they are part and parcel of British society, which was manifested in choosing Muslims among the bid delegation.

“I, in my capacity as the MCB Secretary General, approached the Muslim ambassadors in London and conveyed the positive message that London is a city that recognizes and values diversity,” he said.

“I also sent a letter to the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Mr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and told him that the Muslim community fully embraces London ’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.”

The London delegation also included Ayesha Qureshi, community relations manager for London 2012 Olympics, and Tanzim Wasti, member MCB’s  Foreign Affairs Committee.

The International Olympic Committee (OIC) is made up of 116 members, including some six Muslim members.

London beat Paris to Olympic victory by 54 votes to 50 in the final round of voting earlier Wednesday.

The three other candidates in the opening rounds, Moscow , New York and Madrid fell out one by one in a system under which the lowest ranked candidate is eliminated in each round.

London , Olympics hosts in 1908 and 1948, becomes the first city to be awarded the most lucrative prize in sport for a third time.

The London delegation included Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, England soccer captain star David Beckham, manager of the football team Sven-Goran Eriksson,  high jumper Dalton Grant in addition to former Olympians like five-time Olympic Champion Sir Steve Redgrave, triple jump legend Jonathan Edwards and Athens double gold medallist Kelly Holmes.

Benefiting Muslims

Qureshi reacts after London 's winning bid in Singapore . (Reuters)

Sacranie further said that London ’s win will eventually benefit the sizable Muslim minority in east London , where the government is planning to build the Olympic village.

“When we talk about approximately 400,000 Muslims living in east London , and given that the bulk of British Muslims are living in London in general, surely the community will benefit from the games,” he said.

“It will create job opportunities for Muslims, lead to the establishment of education and social institutions, and in this area, which has long been neglected by the government.”

Economic pundits told Reuters that hosting the world's biggest sporting event in 2012 for the first time in more than 60 years will be a Herculean effort for the British capital but stressed that the economic benefits would far outweigh the costs.

The London Chamber of Commerce's latest survey found that more than two-thirds of London businesses backed the bid.

The benefits, say the London Development Agency, are far-reaching, including a legacy of 9,000 new homes in the Olympics area, half of them within the Olympic Village.

The construction projects alone will create thousands of jobs -- some 70,000 will be needed over the next 15 years.

Cosmopolitan London

Sacranie said that one of the unique features that tilted the balance towards the London offer is the cosmopolitan and diverse nature of London , which leaves the other with the impression that all communities are part and parcel of British society.

“ London has, in effect, given the opportunity for all faith communities to participate in the mainstream,” he said.

“The British Muslims, as far as they are concerned, were really holding their breath and watching very closely the announcement of the host city in Singapore .”

When the news broke on a giant television screen that London had won the right to stage the world's greatest sporting extravaganza, Britons on the streets from different backgrounds erupted in euphoria.

As Olympic-colored confetti showered crowds at Stratford and Trafalgar Square the mood was one of jubilation mixed with surprise.

London is Europe 's most cosmopolitan city. More than one-quarter of the inhabitants were born abroad and the city is home to more than 200 ethnic communities who between them speak more than 300 languages, according to Reuters.

A city that prides itself on its culture, London has more than 200 museums, 500 cinemas and five symphony orchestras.

Thirty-nine percent of London 's total area is made up of parks and green spaces, more than any other comparable city.

Five facilities -- the Olympic stadium, the aquatics centre, the Velopark, the hockey center and the indoor arena – would remain after the Games.