London closer to Olympics bid

13 April 2012

British sports chiefs have moved a giant step closer to putting London forward as a venue for the 2012 Olympic Games.  

Beijing's success in being awarded the 2008 Games would also have been warmly received by some in the British Olympic Association (BOA).

The IOC like to rotate the Games between continents, and Beijing's victory means that a European capital now has an excellent chance of following the Chinese city.

It would cost a minimum of £30million for London to mount a bid - that was the smallest amount spent by any of the five cities competing for 2008.

That compares to £10million spent on England's failed bid for the 2006 World Cup.

But a successful bid would mean £2billion, probably much more, being invested in transport improvements, sports facilities, infrastructure and other construction.

It is that fact which has urged caution on the BOA, who have already had one feasibility study completed and are now preparing to order an independent review.

BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said: "A London bid would rely on the absolute backing of the Government and Greater London Authority. We are in discussion with both.

"The next meeting is coming up shortly but it will be the beginning of next year at the earliest before we know if we are in a position to mount a British bid.

"We are not going to be rushed, we should not bid unless we have a very strong chance of success and if we bid it will be a very strong bid.

"I don't believe that anything other than an Olympics can move sport up the political and social structure. An Olympics leaves a legacy, not just sporting facilities but also transportation and infrastructure."

The feasibility study includes one proposal for an 80,000-seater stadium and Olympic village at Stratford in east London.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, hundreds of thousands of revellers woke up with a giant headache after partying into the early hours to celebrate their award.

It was the most controversial award of an Olympic Games for decades, but Beijing won the race for 2008 by a mile.

The Chinese capital won 56 votes, compared to 22 for Toronto, 18 for Paris and nine for Istanbul.

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