London kicks off promotions to boost 2o12 bid

Computer-generated images have been released revealing London's ambitious plans for the 2012 Olympics. The proposed 80,000-seat stadium in Stratford will be one of the centrepieces of the capital's campaign to win the bid.

Together with plans for a 'bullet train' shuttle whisking spectators from central London in seven minutes, London 2012 organisers hope the package will push the city ahead of Paris in the race to host the world's greatest sporting event.

Bid chairman Sebastian Coe said: "Our futuristic stadium will provide the best natural conditions for the world's athletes."

Final submissions from each of the five competing cities the others are Madrid, New York and Moscow have to be presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a week's time.

The 124-member body will select a host city next July. The submission will be followed by a worldwide publicity campaign which will feature Prince William and David Beckham.

Bookmakers have made London second favourite to win behind the French capital.

The London Stadium would cost about £300 million (approx Dhs 11m) and sit alongside a 17,800-capacity athletes village, aquatics centre, velodrome and indoor sports arenas covering 500 acres of largely run-down land. Athletes would be able to see the stadium and Olym-pic flame from their village.

Designers say the stadium concept which is likely to undergo further revision is based on the human body, with the roof wrapping itself around the building in the way that muscles support and represent the human body.

Chief designer Alejandro Zaero-Pollo, of Foreign Office Architects, said: "We are trying to make the building communicate the idea of physical strength, sport and movement."

Overall, London believes it is in a strong position because 20 of the 33 venues already exist.