London offers 2012 travel package

Coe is on a big vote-winning drive

London's Olympic bid team has offered athletes and team officials a package including free flights to the Games if the city wins hosting rights for 2012.

Promises also include £53 each in telephone calls, free train travel and free accommodation for family members.

On Sunday, London's team revealed a number of incentives for members of international sporting bodies.

The announcements are aimed at boosting London's case against Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow for the vote in July.

London's bid leader Lord Coe made the pledges, which would be likely to cost the organising committee about £15m, at the Sport Accord conference in Berlin.

It is the last major gathering before the International Olympic Committee's session in Singapore, where members will choose the host city for 2012.

And all five rivals, who presented their plans to delegates on Sunday, are lobbying hard.

LONDON'S PROMISES Free economy flights for athletes and officials £53 Olympic village phonecard Free accommodation for relatives with host families Restaurant, theatre and shopping discounts Free UK train travel post-Games £26,000 funding per NOC for training camps Year's accommodation for technical delegates

"London 2012 recognises that athletes are at the heart of the Olympics and Paralympics and we will ensure that everything possible is done to provide the best conditions for athletes to excel," said Coe.

"The commitments contained in the charters will eliminate the traditional costs involved in sending and caring for athletes at the Olympic Games.

"We are eliminating the financial burden so that athletes and teams can concentrate on performance and develop their sports."

Although London will not pay for first-class flights, the 10,500 competitors and their team officials will get the cost of a flexible economy return fare.

They will be given a telephone card for use in the Olympic village, and a discount card offering reductions at restaurants, shops and theatres.

Their families will be the offered the chance to stay with host families free of charge.

Each of the 200 national Olympic committees (NOCs) will be offered £26,000 towards the cost of using a UK training camp.

London woos sports bodies

And technical delegates from international federations and NOCs will get a year's free accommodation and expenses to help them plan for the Games.