Firms join 2012 Olympics agency

Hundreds of small firms have already secured contracts for the 2012 Games

Up to 18,000 companies have signed up to a business "dating agency" designed to match them to contracts for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Almost 90% of those registered with CompeteFor are small or medium-sized firms, figures from London 2012 show.

Of those that have signed up since the launch in January, 67% are based outside the host city.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said smaller firms were getting in "pole position" for future work.

The ODA and London Organising Committee (Locog) expects to allocate more than £6bn of work as part of future contracts.

The CompeteFor system is co-funded by regional development agencies.

More than 70% of the 650 companies that have already won £2bn of work supplying the ODA are smaller companies.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: "These figures show that smaller businesses are making the running and getting the biggest benefit so far.

"It is a challenging project and we're working with the best of British business to keep well on track to deliver a great Olympic and Paralympic Games and a lasting legacy."