'Make 2012 the tap water Olympics'

THE 2012 Olympic Games must offer free tap water to all visitors and athletes, a leading MP said today.

In a parliamentary debate about the Olympics legacy Tom Brake MP, the Lib-Dem London and Olympics spokesman, said spectators must not be forced to rely on environmentally-unfriendly bottled drinks.

His comments follow the successful Evening Standard Water on Tap campaign, which called for London restaurants to offer customers free tap water as a matter of course.

More than 3,000 restaurants and businesses signed up to the campaign, including major chains and dozens of top chefs and restaurateurs. Following the launch of the campaign, sales of bottled water in the capital have already dropped.

Mr Brake believes the Olympics would provide the perfect showcase for the capital's tap water. He has now written to the Minister for the Olympics, the Mayor of London and 2012 organisers asking them to ensure equipment is installed at the Olympic venues to provide free non-bottled drinking water. "Everyone wants the 2012 Games to be the most sustainable on record," Mr Brake said. "That must mean free non-bottled water for all visitors. Otherwise the discarded bottles will stretch to the moon and back. And there would be a great health spin-off from increased water consumption and a reduction in fizzy drink consumption.

"There is a head of steam building up behind the campaign, first launched by the Evening Standard's campaign Water on Tap, to cut back on bottled water," he said. "Having free non-bottled water at all the Olympic venues would be a major step forward."

Thames Water has also revealed plans to create a "London carafe" to serve tap water in thousands of restaurants, which could be used at the Games.

A £5,000 prize is on offer and the winner will be announced in December. Judges include chef Aldo Zilli, architect Zaha Hadid, Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth and Evening Standard wine critic Andrew Neather.