Blair adds weight to Olympic bid
Prime minister Tony Blair has arrived in Singapore to add weight to the UK’s last minute lobbying to secure the 2012 Olympic Games.
The 116-member International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote by secret ballot on Wednesday to decide which of the five international bid teams will be awarded the prize of hosting the games.
London is competing against Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow to stage the 2012 competition and it is expected that Mr Blair and his wife Cherie will join culture secretary Tessa Jowell and bid chairman Lord Coe in seeking one-to-one meetings with as many IOC delegates as possible ahead of the crucial vote.
The London bid team want to promote the British capital as the best venue for the games and to quell any lingering doubts about the city’s transport system and the UK’s ability to construct top-class sporting arenas on time.
Mr Blair described the London bid as “fantastic” and said he was looking forward to stressing Britain’s commitment to the bid.
“I think London’s bid is fantastic, we’re really proud of it,” he said.
“It’s got the support of the British people, of all the political parties, and the country’s right behind it.
“I look forward in the next couple of days to talking to as many people as possible and just stressing the commitment to and our pride in the bid.”
“I think it is recognised by everyone now as a very, very strong one,” the prime minister added.
Mr Blair, who will leave Singapore ahead of the IOC vote to host the G8 summit at Gleneagles, Scotland, has joined a host of other high-profile figures in the Far East to back London’s bid.
They include England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and his captain David Beckham, Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis and Prince William.
Yesterday, the Queen also gave a public message of support to Lord Coe and his team ahead of the vote.
The chairman of London’s bid arrived in Singapore with his inner circle on Saturday, after putting the final touches to their last 45-minute presentation to IOC delegates.
Lord Coe will be joined on the platform by London’s ten bid leaders and the UK’s three IOC members, including Princess Anne.
As the final decision draws nearer, the bid team hope they are making ground on Paris, long seen as the favourite to win.
With the race to host the Olympics entering the final straight, some commentators are expecting a neck and neck finish between London and the French capital.
