IOC expert gives boost to London

London's 2012 Olympic bid received a massive lift today from one of the most experienced figures in international sport.

A few days before International Olympic Committee inspectors visit the capital, Michael Payne, the IOC's former marketing supremo, heaped praise on London and said Paris were far from being firm favourites to win July's vote.

Payne, who was instrumental in turning the Olympics into a financial success in the 1980s and 1990s, has a reputation as a tough master for bidding cities to please.

But he told Standard Sport: "London keeps raising its game. I am pleasantly surprised. There is a long way to go but this is the most open race for 20 years.

"There is not a favourite like Beijing was for the 2008 Games. That doesn't mean that Paris is not the favourite, but there is everything to play for.

"You don't necessarily want to be the favourite in an open race with six months to go.

"I get the impression that many IOC members are just now beginning to focus on this race."

In most bidding campaigns in the past 20 years, the city regarded as the favourite six months before the vote has failed to win.