MPs say Olympic bid 'desirable', but price must be right

Tony Blair was told by a committee of MPs yesterday that a British bid to host the 2012 Olympics Games was "clearly desirable".

But, a week before the Cabinet is to make a decision over the bid, the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee also warned against trying to bring the games to London "at any price". The committee raised fears that a planned Olympic stadium in Stratford, east London, could become a white elephant.

In a report, the MPs made it clear that 2012 was likely to be the last date that Britain could make a credible attempt to attract the games to this country in the foreseeable future.

Setting out a strong case for bidding, the committee said: "We are a sporting nation, and both our athletes and armchair enthusiasts deserve the practical advantage and sheer euphoria that an Olympics on home soil would entail.

"The potential boost from a successful Games – well- hosted and with a goodly haul of medals – to civic and national pride, prestige and well-being, to a more active lifestyle throughout the nation and, arguably, to the wider economy was the subject of much of the evidence submitted to us.

"Partly in recognition of these factors and partly to demonstrate them, it is clearly desirable in principle that London should host an Olympics and Paralympic Games." But it added: "It should not do so at any price."

The committee, which is split over the merits of a bid, said there were a series of questions that had to be "answered by the Government before it can decide that the country and its taxpayers will seek to put on the greatest sporting show on earth – writing effectively a blank cheque".

It said it was worried by proposals over the Stratford stadium when a redeveloped Wembley was capable of hosting a leading athletics event.

"If this duplication were in fact to occur, much of the responsibility would lie with the sporting bodies and agencies, whose discussions with each other and with Government have led to this confusion."

The report called for "the most serious and creative thought" on the design and long-term future of the east London stadium, and said planners should seriously consider "temporary construction and subsequent demolition" as well as any possible future uses.

The MPs took a swipe at the Government for keeping many of the vital facts about the Olympic bid secret. "This was of limited use for the purposes of accountability and none whatsoever with regard to public debate," said the report.

Committee member Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda, told Radio 4's PM programme: "The report can be read as enthusiastically sceptical or sceptically enthusiastic."

The shadow Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, said: "I welcome its conclusion that hosting the Olympics is 'clearly desirable in principle'. It appears the entire country is happy to say it supports an Olympic bid – except Tony Blair and [the Culture Secretary] Tessa Jowell. It's time they got behind the push to show the world why London will host a world-class Olympic Games."

Business in London was also behind a bid. Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "We believe that London can and should bid for the 2012 Games. Gerald Kaufman was quite right in saying the issue of cost is crucial. That's why we believe, along with our colleagues on the London Business Board, London CBI and London First, that business needs to be involved right from the start of any bid."