London Olympic hopes finely poised

By Gordon Farquhar BBC Five Live sports news correspondent

There have been two things over the past few days of the International Olympic Committee evaluation commission's visit that will stick in my mind.

The pensioner on the Jubilee line wearing a "Back the Bid" pin badge, and the conversation a day later between two fellow frustrated passengers enduring a three-hour train journey to London on Saturday after a signal failure south of Watford.

"Thank God the IOC inspectors weren't on this bloody train."

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That's the thing - the thin line between success and failure.

It is hard to know where exactly it is drawn in terms of London's chances but, despite the genuinely impressive showing this week, you always have in the back of your mind that a cock-up might not be far away.

I really hope not, as an awful lot of people have put in a huge amount of effort to pull this thing off.

The level of detail impresses, and the passion cuts through everything - noted by the evaluation commission, and referred to in public.

You cannot measure it, but you feel it is worth its weight in gold, defined by a simple pin-badge whose slogan was much more eloquent on the lapel of a maroon wool coat than a pinstripe suit.

It is very hard to read the mood of the commissioners, and that is the way they want it.

They do not want to give much away.

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Much of the language at the final press briefing was of exactly the same tone as that expressed two weeks earlier at the close of Madrid's inspection.

Praise, thanks, professionalism and quality noted.

Politely avoiding controversy, recognising a leading question, but giving encouragement to the bid team that their efforts may not all be in vain come July.

They drew specific attention to the political support for the bid, not least from Her Majesty The Queen, whose royal wave-off to the commissioners from the Buckingham Palace balcony is usually reserved for heads of state.

They referred warmly to the legacy promised for that drab area of east London around Stratford as a potential benefit for the whole Olympic movement.

London's public transport remains a risk

They duly noted and appreciated the presence of an athlete at every turn, every presentation, and every photo opportunity.

They obligingly dismissed the Ken Livingstone/Jewish journalist row that has been a thorn in the bid team's side this week.

And just when you think it is all going so well, along comes a neat reminder of the thin margins that will probably decide this vote.

London's public transport remains a risk.

Will the IOC accept all the guarantees put forward from the city and the government who lamely handed back the World Athletics Championships a couple of years ago?

There is risk attached to London's bid.

The evaluation commission will assess that, and pass on their judgement to the voting members, who might just be looking for the easiest possible ride after the scandal of Salt Lake City, upheaval of Athens and the political perils that await in Beijing.

Gordon Farquhar will be following the commission on its visits to New York and Paris.