Olympic Bid

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Jun 2003

"What a shame the Government left it so late to put some wind behind London's bid for the 2012 Olympics. Still, better late than never and I hope you are all as enthusiastic about the bid as I am!"

"Bringing the Olympics to London would be a fantastic opportunity for Londoners - it would put the city centre-stage and do an enormous amount for the country's international prestige - and not just in the sporting arena."

"There will be longer-lasting benefits too: if we win the bid the Government will have to build an Olympic village. Think of the amount of affordable housing that will mean once the games are over."

"If we win the bid the Government will have to sort out London's appalling transport links - this is no time to cop out of the Crossrail project."

"It's important not to let squabbles about the funding get in the way of this. No, I don't think Londoners should have to pay for it and I'm no keener on an extra £20 on my council tax bill than you are. But this is too important an opportunity to let slip."

As Simon Hughes says: "Hosting the Olympics in 2012 will create a generation of home-grown sports stars, it will boost business and tourism and will present a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-generate our city."