London Olympics organizer gets key ministerial role

PanARMENIAN.Net - British Prime Minister David Cameron has given a key ministerial role to a top official credited with delivering a successful London Olympics and Paralympics, the government announced Tuesday, Sept 4.

According to AFP, Paul Deighton, chief executive of Olympics organizers LOCOG, has been appointed minister for infrastructure and economic delivery in the Treasury as part of a cabinet reshuffle to reinvigorate Cameron's struggling government.

Deighton, who worked for US bank Goldman Sachs for 22 years before becoming LOCOG chief executive in 2005, will join the House of Lords -- the unelected upper house of Britain's parliament - in order to take the job.

"I very much look forward to taking on my new responsibilities in January 2013," Deighton, 56, said in a statement. "In the meantime my entire focus is on delivering a fantastic Paralympic Games that continues to showcase great sport and the best of Britain to the world."

Deighton, who was previously chief operating officer for Europe at Goldman Sachs, is credited with raising £2 billion ($3.2 billion, 2.5 billion euros) of private investment for the Games despite a recession in Britain.

The London Paralympics, a near sell-out for the first time in the event's 52-year-history, are in their second week and close on Sunday, Sept 9.