IOC poll shows Britons back bid

Fears that London's bid for the 2012 Olympics was in danger of being sunk by a lack of public support were firmly put to rest today.

Standard Sport can reveal that the International Olympic Committee's secret independent poll in Britain for the campaign shows higher ratings than even London 2012 produced in their own surveys. Sources have confirmed that they show 70 per cent support across Britain and a 68 per cent backing from Londoners for the Games.

The IOC survey was carried out at the end of last year. The poll results will not be officially published until May at the earliest when the IOC's evaluation commission, which visited the capital last week, complete a report on the bids from London, Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow.

Although the figures are believed to be lower than the IOC polls for favourites Paris, London 2012 officials submitted a conservative 68 per cent figure from their own polls in the detailed "bid book" presented to the IOC in November.

Some of the other five bidding cities are sure to boast higher figures but the results are good enough to reassure London that public support is not likely to be a negative issue for London ahead of the IOC vote on 6 July.

London 2012 officials are believed to be "comfortable" with any polling figures above 66 per cent and recent polls have showed support increasing towards 75 per cent.