Release time: immediate

London business leaders today welcomed Ken Livingstone and Sebastian Coe's detailed explanation to the GLA about how they plan to win the 2012 Olympics for the capital.

"There is a definite feeling that the London 2012 bid has upped its game considerably since the Athens Olympics, which many businesses think has put us right back in the race," said Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce.

"Business people who had been sceptical now tend to say that the benefits in terms of tourism, Olympic contracts and improvements to the transport infrastructure are simply too good to miss."

"We conducted a survey 18 months ago which showed the 81 per cent of firms wanted the 2012 games to come to London and 61 per cent thought they would benefit directly from them."

"With the economic case behind the bid gathering momentum, today I would say that both of those figures are almost certainly even higher."

NOTES TO EDITORS:
1) London Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents 3,500 firms across the capital, ranging in size from multi-national companies to sole traders.

2) For further details or to arrange an interview please contact Dan Bridgett, head of press at London Chamber on +44 (020) 7203 1897 or (07721) 395501.

ENDS