London makes Games bid in Athens

London 2012 flags have been put on The Mall

London has presented its bid for the 2012 Olympics at a press conference with four rival cities in Athens.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, Mayor Ken Livingstone and Olympians Lord Seb Coe and Sir Steve Redgrave put the city's case for the games to 500 media.

Tony Blair also spoke in a pre-recorded video, saying: "We've got the skill, we've got the commitment, but above all, we've got the passion."

Rivals Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow also presented their visions.

London's was the only city whose bid included its country's political leader or its mayor.

Games potential

Bid chairman Lord Coe said: "Sport is nothing without dreams.

"My dream of competing in an Olympic Games was fired at the age of 12 by the television images of Mexico City.

Lord Coe said the games in Mexico City fired his dreams

"We will showcase Olympic athletes and Olympic sports in several of London's existing world-class facilities, at its cultural landmarks and in its great city parks."

The prime minister also spoke of the wider potential of the Games: "I believe that we can build through hosting the Games, a lasting legacy, not just for our country, for sport in our country, for the opportunities for young people in sport in our country, but also for the Olympic movement."

Ms Jowell, the cabinet minister responsible for the bid, said a successful bid would counteract the "epidemic of obesity" and the high percentage of young people giving up sport when they leave school.

Mr Livingstone said £17bn of investment was in place to improve London's transport.

"London's bid is forging ahead from the vision, to tasting the reality of a London Olympic Games," he said.

'Important opportunity'

Paris entitled its bid "L' Amour Des Jeux", (The Love of Sport) while Madrid offered "Olympic Passion".

New York's bid, NYC2012, claimed the city was an "Olympic Village everyday" with a diverse "global family", while Moscow claimed it could host the Olympics "tomorrow" because it had sports facilities already in place.

Speaking earlier on the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme, Lord Coe had described the Athens presentation as "an important opportunity".

If London were successful the games would create improved infrastructure as well as inspiration in the UK, he said.

We know what the constraints are and we know that we have to build excellence without extravagance Lord Coe Full transcript of interview

Lord Coe said Sunday's presentation was one of the few opportunities bidding countries had been given to make an international presentation.

Asked if a successful bid would transform London, Lord Coe replied it would leave a lasting impression.

He said: "Not only in terms of facility, in terms of improved infrastructure, in terms of transportation, it would actually leave a soft legacy - the legacy that allows our youngsters to have role models in their own backyard, to adopt health-related lifestyles."

He said that London would not spend as much on the Olympics as Greece had and it had already "nailed down" its financial package with the government.

"We know what the boundaries are, we know what the constraints are, and we know that we have to build excellence without extravagance.

"And I think that's what people want, they don't want to be left with large facilities or large follies, monuments to our planning but no afterthought. "