We like that: Britain parliament members trying to keep Olympic marathon a people's event

A group of national and local lawmakers have protested against plans to change the route of the London 2012 Olympic marathon.
Five members of Britain's parliament and three local officials have written a joint letter to London's Evening Standard newspaper accusing organizers of breaking a promise to run the 26.2-mile race through the east of the city.

The race was to be run through east London and finish at the Olympic Stadium but will instead be staged in loops in the heart of the capital.

The letter says the marathon was for many the "only opportunity to see Olympic athletes."

But London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe says that the original route would lead to gridlocked streets on one of the busiest days of the Olympics.