Strong backing for London Olympic bid – but cynicism on the chances
A strong majority of Britons back the idea of London hosting the 2012 Olympics – but a majority are cynical about the bid’s chances.
An ICM poll for the Guardian found more than seven out of ten Brits (74 per cent) backed the bid but only 39 per cent believed that London would win the Games.
Half of respondents (52 per cent) believed London would lose-out to rivals Paris, New York, Moscow or Madrid.
Inspectors from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) arrive in London this week to assess the city’s suitability to host the games.
The inspection team starts its four-day assessment on Wednesday.
Public enthusiasm and backing for the Games will be one of their key criteria, alongside factors such as transport, finance and feasibility.
The team is set to meet Tony Blair and the other main party leaders at Downing Street on Saturday, before attending a special dinner at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen.
London bid chairman Lord Sebastian Coe has downplayed the perception that Paris are favourites saying that in recent weeks the gap has been closing and is now “too close to call”.
ICM interviewed 1,012 adults across the country by telephone between February 11 and 13.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said yesterday that she wanted every single person to be an ambassador for the bid “from which the whole of the UK can benefit”.
The final decision on the host city will be made on July 6 in Singapore.
And, the possibility has been raised of Mr Blair making a flying visit to Singapore on the eve of the final presentation. Mr Blair was the only leader of the five bidding countries to be present in Athens and there was a clear perception that his attendance boosted London’s bid.
It had been thought he would be unable to attend as the IOC event will clash with the opening of the G8 summit in Gleneagles, which Mr Blair will be chairing.
