London 2012 gaining momentum

Saturday, 15 January 2005 12:00 AM

The Culture, Media and Sport Secretary has given London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics a welcome boost, saying it is winning support and gaining strength by the day.

Speaking at Tottenham's White Hart Lane, after 20 Premiership clubs officially put their weight behind the bid, Tessa Jowell said she was confident London had a real fighting chance of securing the backing of the International Olympic Committee this year.

The result will be disclosed on 6 July.

On Friday, Premiership clubs agreed to advertise London's 2012 bid on their perimeter hoardings for the rest of the season.

London is vying with Paris, Madrid, Moscow and New York to host the Games.

Although the French are favourites to land the coveted event, Ms Jowell discerned "a real sense of momentum" behind the bid.

She said the support from the Premiership had been "fantastic".

"It is impossible to say who is to win the tournament now, but we are in a much stronger position now than we were last year."

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said it would be fantastic for the Games to be held in Britain.

"We have been talking to the bid organisers since last summer. We all felt that this would be the ideal time to lend our support, because the season's run-in begins now."

As British football was screened in 195 countries to some 600 million people across the world, fans would realize the significance of the Premiership backing London 2012, Mr Scudamore said.

Should London get the vote, football matches would be played at different stadia across the UK, including Birmingham's Villa Park, Manchester's Old Trafford, Newcastle's St. James' Park, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Hampden Park in Glasgow.

The final would be held at the new Wembley Stadium.

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