London Olympic bid is bookies

London Olympic bid is bookies’ favourite

London Olympic bid is bookies’ favourite

Leading bookmakers have put London at the top of the pile in the race to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

London will submit its preliminary bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today, along with eight other hopefuls.

Paris is looking like the next strongest contender, with New York, Madrid, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Leipzig and Havana also lining up bids.

The deadline for submitting answers to the IOC’s questionnaire passes at midnight tonight.

The IOC will then hear further presentations and make visits to potential host cities ahead of its decision, which is due to be announced at a meeting in Singapore in July 2005.

London’s bid is being headed up by American entrepreneur Barbara Cassani, who previously led the management buy-out at low cost airline, go.