Benefits of Olympics 'to last generations'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today launched the final countdown for London’s 2012 Olympic bid – promising work would begin on the Games within 48 hours if the city was successful.

He refused to be drawn into a diplomatic row with Jacques Chirac over comments the French president was reported to have made running down Britain.

Instead, with just 24 hours to go before the crunch International Olympic Committee (IOC) venue vote in Singapore, he promised to appoint a dedicated Olympics minister to oversee the Games and stressed the lasting legacy they would leave for London, the UK and the Olympic movement.

The prime minister, with his wife Cherie and British culture secretary Tessa Jowell, will now embark on a last-ditch charm offensive on IOC delegates in a bid to win them round.

Mr Blair told a press conference this morning: “The spirit of London 2012 will be the best spirit of the Olympic movement.

“A love of sport, a belief in the ability of sport to bring people together, to educate, to enhance people’s lives and a complete determination if we are fortunate enough to host the Olympic Games.

"We believe in something that doesn’t just last for the few weeks of the Games but lasts for the generations to come.

“That’s our passion. That’s why we want the Games so much. That’s why we believe we can deliver something not just for our own country but for the Olympic movement.”

Mr Chirac was reported to have made his disparaging comments about British food and mad cow disease in talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Asked if the frayed relations with France would damage London’s bid and the G8 summit in Scotland later this week, Mr Blair replied: “The G8 is going to focus on really important issues and to be quite honest I’m not going to disparage anybody.”

With Paris and Moscow among the Olympic bid rivals, alongside Madrid and New York, Mr Blair insisted: “I don’t disrespect the other cities that are bidding. Everybody is doing their level best. We should approach this in the right diplomatic spirit, which I will do.”

Pressed again on Mr Chirac’s reported comments, Mr Blair stressed: “Particularly at this moment I don’t want to get tempted down that path.

"What I’m concentrating on in the next few hours and days is to do our level best to support this bid and then have a G8 focused on Africa and climate change and everything else comes a long, long way behind those things.”

Mr Blair, sitting alongside bid leader Sebastien Coe, confirmed he would appoint a full-time Olympics minister if London won through.

“Absolutely. It’s important we have a dedicated minister.”

He also stressed that work on the Games could begin on Thursday if London wins tomorrow’s vote.

Mr Blair said: “I think everybody knows by my coming here the strength of the commitment and that’s the best you can do – also telling people we are ready to go. The day after, we are ready to start. I think people accept that now.”

Mr Coe said: “This is a bid for athletes, created by athletes, driven by athletes.”

He also disclosed that a key member of London’s bid team making the final presentation to the IOC tomorrow would be 14-year-old basketball player Amber Chambers from Newham, east London.

“I hope that clearly demonstrates the way we are doing this for people of Amber’s age,” he said. “It’s about the athletes of tomorrow, the Olympians of the future.”

Later today, Mr Blair is scheduled to make a joint appearance with David Beckham as cities vie with each other to boast celebrity sporting endorsements for their bid.

Mr Blair then leaves Singapore later today to fly to Scotland to host the G8 summit in Gleneagles.