Britain to appoint "Games Minister" if London wins 2012 race

If London win the bid to stage the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the British government would appoint an Olympic minister to the cabinet to oversee the staging of the Games.

"The Government backs the bid all the way," Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell told reporters as London unveiled its detailed plans to stage the extravaganza.

The British capital is joining Paris, Madrid, Moscow and New York in the race for the honor. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will select a host city in July.

"If we win the bid there will be a minister in the cabinet withthe clear responsibility to bring the Games to fruition," Jowell said.

"Whoever that is will work with equally committed ministers in all the relevant departments right across government, departments that have already signed up to the necessary guarantees on funding,on security, on visas, on health and so on."

Jowell said that London would deliver a "fabulous Games" with all the legacy that the IOC, London and the nation could want.

"We may be at the heart of Europe's largest financial center," she said. "But all the accountants in the world can't give you allthe explanations why getting the Games will be good for London, good for Britain and good for sport."

The operating budget for holding the Olympics has been set at 1.5 billion pounds (2.79 billion US dollars). A public funding package is already in place to the tune of 2.375 billion pounds ($4.41 billion) to cover the cost of constructing new venues, transport infrastructure, security and other contingencies.

"If we win, it will be the biggest boost to sport that Britain will ever have experienced," Jowell said.

A successful London bid would transform the east of the city with a new Olympic park. The bid's centerpiece is a new 90,000-seat stadium and the "best ever" athletes village which would be turned into 3,600 affordable homes afterwards.

It also features London landmarks including Wimbledon, Wembley,Lord's and Horse Guards Parade.

Source: Xinhua