Source: www.sportbusiness.com

London 2012’s Olympic marathon chief David Bedford has stepped down after expressing his “frustratio

n” with organisers of the Games, it has been revealed.

The former distance runner, who is also race director of the London Marathon, was marathon manager for the 2012 event, but it emerged on Monday that he quit in February.

Bedford told the London Evening Standard: “I quit my role; I resigned. We (London Marathon) are a professional business run by professionals and it was very difficult to work for another organisation who in the main have never organised an event of their own.”

London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said Bedford's decision was “personal” and the organisation would continue to work with Games organisers on the marathons and race walk events.

“David has decided not to work on the Olympic events any more,” Bitel told the Press Association. “That's his p

ersonal choice and I very much regret his decision. The decision was due to his frustration with LOCOG's (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) approach to event management.”

Bitel, who would not expand on what had caused Bedford’s frustration, added: “He has incredible knowledge and experience so we regret the fact he's not working on the events, but we are continuing to work closely and harmoniously with LOCOG and we are confident that they will be great events.”