Interview: Olympic director of sport Debbie Jevans

The 49-year-old former tennis professional is the director of sport at the London Organising Committee, responsible for the logistical aspects of the summer Olympic and Paralympic events.

She said: "My role is to deliver the events in 2012, working very closely with our venues team and the ODA. They build the stage, if you will, and me and my team put on the play.

"We do that aligned to delivering the medical programme and the anti-doping programme and ensuring all the athletes needs are met.

"There are 26 sports, and each one has an event manager who builds up a team responsible for everything from technical officials, to food for the venue, to designs for the warm up. It's full on but exciting."

Ms Jevans worked on London's successful bid in 2005 and since then has been working on the fine detail of planning the world's biggest sporting event.

She said: "What is key is we won the bid, and then you get into the minutiae and detail, the operational planning. Inevitably there will be some tweaks. Some come from the sports, some from us.

"We work with the sports and one of the roles I have is to liaise with the international federations to get their approval. Then we move forward to make a decision, every step of the way ensuring the sport isn't in any way harmed by any move there may be."

Two sport bodies facing a change of venue for 2012 are badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. Originally to be held in a temporary venue next to The O2 they now look destined for Wembley Arena to save money, although agreement still has to be reached.

Ms Jevans said: "We are in discussion with the international federations of badminton and gymnastics, making good progress and working through the final details with them for Wembley Arena.

"Ultimately the international federation has to give its approval and that's only right and proper. When they give that approval, that's when I'll be able to say the sports will be held there.

"We don't have a deadline but we're making great progress. We're confident we'll achieve the right results but one's a hostage to fortune to come out with a date and then it doesn't happen. That's not me trying to be evasive, we're just trying to work out the final details."

The scale of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is vast, requiring hugely complex logistical planning. It will be the biggest sports event ever staged in London.

Olympic numbers:

26 sports

34 venues

7.6million tickets

10,500 athletes

205 countries represented

300 medal events

21,000 media and broadcasters

17 days of competition

3,000 technical officials

7,500 team officials

Paralympic numbers:

20 sports

21 venues

1.5million tickets

4,200 athletes

147 medal events

6,500 media and broadcasters

11 days of competition

1,200 technical officials

2,300 team officials