£10m boost for 2012 bid

London today announced a £10million injection into the campaign for the 2012 Olympics with a sponsorship programme involving 25 companies.

Exactly a week before the International Olympic Committee decides whether the capital will make the cut for next year's vote, bid chief executive Keith Mills said BT, British Airways and EDF Energy have signed up as leading - "Premier" - partners.

London's main rival is Paris so the backing of EDF is a major coup - it is the British arm of French utilities giant Electricité de France. Microsoft, the Hilton Group and Avis have also signed up as backers, providing both cash and value-in-kind products and services.

The IOC regards marketing as a key part of hosting the Olympics and Mills said: "London's position as a leading European and global centre for finance will offer great commercial opportunities for the marketing and development of the Olympic brand."

The IOC will decide next Tuesday which of the nine bidding cities will become official candidate cities before the vote in July 2005.