'THERE'S STILL TIME TO BACK OUR BID' SAYS TONY BLAIR
(6 June 2005)

Prime Minister, Tony Blair, urged the nation to support London's Olympic Bid in a statement saying that there's still time to back our bid. He said "as many of you will know, I am a passionate supporter of London's bid to bring the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the UK for the first time in 64 years - and we are about to enter the final lap.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet in Singapore on 6 July to decide the 2012 Host City and I will be there immediately prior to the vote to help press the case for London.

London's bid has captured the imagination of the British public. Latest opinion polls show public support in London around 80 per cent, over two million people have directly registered their support for the bid and all the major political parties are united behind it.

And the reasons for this support are clear. A London victory on 6 July would mean:

• thousands of new jobs
• a boost to tourism across the UK
• the chance to host athlete preparation camps up and down the country
• one million pieces of sports equipment, five temporary swimming pools and four arenas redistributed across the UK after the Games end
• a UK-wide cultural festival
• the largest volunteering opportunities ever seen in post-war Britain and
• a sporting legacy for the whole of the UK which will be felt for generations to come.

But as well as these tangible benefits, there is also the boost to our national pride and the inspiration our children will feel by witnessing the world's greatest sporting event on home soil.

Our bid is widely regarded as a leading contender - but the result is too close to call. Please do your bit for the UK's Olympic bid by registering your support at www.london2012.com or text London to 82012."