London will fly world to Games

How the opening ceremony will look should London win the bid
14 April 2012

London 2012 today unveiled a multi-million pound incentive package for athletes and national Olympic bodies should the capital win the right to host the 2012 Games.

All 10,000 athletes plus team officials will be given free return flights to London, 100 (£52) of free phonecalls from the Olympic Village, free UK train travel and athletes' families given an opportunity to stay with British host families free of charge.

Each of the 200 national Olympic committees will also be offered 50,000 (£26,500) towards the cost of using a UK training camp.

The incentives are contained in charters published by London 2012 today making specific promises to athletes and Olympic bodies.

London 2012 bid chairman Sebastian Coe said: "London 2012 recognises that athletes are at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and we will ensure that everything possible is done to provide the best conditions for athletes to excel.

"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."

London 2012 will not pay for first-class flights but will provide team members with the cost of a flexible economy return fare.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are to close a loophole in doping regulations to extend drug-testing to all finalists in Olympic events.

Currently, only the medallists are tested but if one tests positive then the fourth-placed athlete - who has not had a drugs test - is awarded a medal without having to prove they are clean.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said: "We need to avoid a situation where athletes are awarded medals without being tested properly.

"We need to expand the number of athletes tested and we will take this on board."

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