Sprint team's Xmas boost to bid

Britain's Olympic gold medal-winning sprint relay squad will turn on Oxford Street's Christmas lights next Monday as London's 2012 Olympic bid takes centre stage in this year's festivities.

It was announced today that record-breaking Olympic rower and bid ambassador Sir Steve Redgrave will join Athens Olympic 4x100 metres relay champions Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish, Mark Lewis-Francis and Jason Gardener in the ceremony.

It will take place on the same day that London 2012 officials hand in their bid book detailing all their plans for the Games to the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland.

This year's display contains powerful computer-directed lights that can change the mood and colours along Oxford Street within seconds. At 2012 every day - 8.12pm - the display will switch to the blue, yellow, green and red colours of London's Olympic bid logo. It is hoped the display can be seen from every London borough.

Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), was appointed an official ambassador for the campaign last night.

Mayor Ken Livingstone, who made the announcement at a CBI conference in Birmingham, said: "It is important that people throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland recognise that a London Games is a tremendous opportunity for the whole UK."