Pay attention, Tony

Today International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge made his way into Downing Street gingerly - he broke his foot on a recent visit to rivals Paris - to talk to Tony Blair about London's campaign for the 2012 Olympics.

The pair discussed London's prospects with Mayor Ken Livingstone and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, but seasoned Olympic watchers will have looked beyond the handshakes to judge the message that Rogge sent to Mr Blair.

Rogge, an accomplished operator and diplomat, refused to reveal the details of his conversation at Number 10.

Here is Standard Sport's analysis of what the sporting diplomat is likely to have said - and more importantly what his words really meant for Blair and bid leader Barbara Cassani...

'Thanks very much for giving me the telephone call so soon after the Cabinet decision to back a bid' (Blair called Rogge within minutes of the meeting in May)

Good start, Tony. Liked the style - just what I expect. It's always good to put a face to the voice and talk as one leader to another. But for the avoidance of doubt, Tony - and I'll say this slowly so that there is no misunderstanding - you have to prove the Government is behind the bid every step of the way. We must have that backing for financial and security reasons, otherwise it simply isn't going to happen.

'Delighted to meet you, Cherie'

Nice to see all that nonsense about you becoming bid leader is behind us. You weren't really serious, were you? I understand that Tony won't make every meeting - 2005 is an election year, isn't it? - so it's fine if you come along to the odd do instead. But please don't get ideas above your station: we want Tony in person for the decision in Singapore - assuming the Queen can't make it - because Paris will send French President Jacques Chirac and New York might rope in your old mate Bill Clinton.

'You have all the fundamentals for an excellent bid'

We like the idea of a London bid. I keep saying that. But you haven't got a hope unless your American bid leader - an interesting appointment, I felt! - gets the technical plan together by the end of the year for transport, accommodation and sports facilities. No dodgy dossiers, please. Deliver in substance, not spin.

'London, I am convinced, will be a front-runner'

Look, you have a decent chance of winning but between you and me I say the same thing when I go to Paris and Madrid. It's an IOC Presidential thing - I learned it from the old boss, Juan Antonio Samaranch. I need all the cities in there so we can have a good contest. That keeps the sponsors and US TV happy - and, remember, they pay for this whole show.

'David Beckham and his wife are very welcome to be involved in the campaign. But they don't win many votes, especially since Britain does not field a football team at the Olympics'

Don't let Barbara get too glitzy and glamorous. This isn't "Cool Britannia" and, remember, most IOC members are over 60 and know more about "Old Spice" than "Posh Spice". There is a "but" in this though, Tony. If there is any way in which you could get FIFA to agree to you guys entering a team - say after a pre-Games home nations qualifying tournament - that would certainly bring in the crowds. We'd like that. But if you even suggest that David Beckham is a more important figure than an Olympic legend such as Sir Steve Redgrave then we could make life difficult for you.

'Transport is a major challenge for every bidding city'

Sorry, but I've just been sitting in a monster traffic jam on the way from The Savoy. Something to do with essential water-main repairs. It was so tedious that I almost resorted to the Tube - I said almost. It's clear to us that Paris runs a lot more smoothly, so I think you ought to take a serious look at this. I mean you may want to base the Olympics at Stratford but I sincerely hope you aren't expecting IOC members to stay there, are you? The Ritz would be much nicer, but if it's going to take for ever to get from west to east, then they aren't going to vote for you.

'I would be delighted to come over and visit major sporting occasions in Britain'

Get us a couple of tickets for an England international at Twickenham and I'll be over in a shot. I used to play, you know. Back row. Decent player.

'As the President, I don't vote'

I'm afraid the President can't fix the vote any more. Sad but true. You are now in the hands of 120-odd IOC members and they can be an unpredictable bunch at the best of times. Look what happened last week when Vancouver just beat Pyeongchang in the 2010 Winter Games voting by a narrow margin of three votes. Nobody would have predicted that it would be so close. In short, once you get to Singapore, you are on your own.

'We were delighted with the support of Tessa Jowell and Richard Caborn over the recent code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'

Good tactics, getting Caborn to come over to the meeting in Copenhagen and back the code. We are going to have a difficult year ahead with a possible court case about the Salt Lake City bribery scandal and the rush to get the Athens Olympics ready. Don't even think of having a go at us in public or your bid will sink in the Thames.

'It has been a pleasure to come to Downing Street'

Nice house, Tony, and thanks for the invitation but I hope you don't think my head has been turned by a little bit of meeting and greeting. I go to the White House and get the red-carpet treatment all over the world watching sports events. I'm a very important person. Please don't forget that.

'No I won't, have another chocolate biscuit, thank you'

But since we're talking food, I'm sure you understand that my members like their canapés - in fact should London get the

Games, a reception at Buckingham Palace is de rigeur. And hand-pick the restaurants, please: yes to The Ivy; no to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen - he may be popular, but so is David Beckham, and we've said quite enough about him, haven't we?