NI rows in behind London’s Olympic bid

Northern Ireland has rowed in behind London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games after Secretary of State, Peter Hain said he fully supported the bid during a visit to the Lomac Tiles University Boat Race on the River Lagan this week.

'Tossing the Sovereign', at the start of the boat race, to decide on which side of the river the teams row, the Secretary of State said a successful bid would bring substantial investment in sport and training facilities as well as economic benefits to Northern Ireland as a whole.

“Regional backing for the bid is of vital importance in the final days and Northern Ireland’s enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed,” Mr Hain said. “A recent poll showed there was 87% local support for the London bid, the highest of all UK regions.”

Last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged a successful 2012 Olympic Games bid would benefit the whole of the UK, not just London.

During Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday he said everything would be done for a successful outcome and that the bid was "a tremendous opportunity for us to make an important contribution to the Olympic legacy and the Olympic movement".

The International Olympic Committee will make a decision on the 2012 hosts in July.

(MB/SP)