MANCHESTER'S hopes of playing a part in a British bid to stage the Olympic Games in 2012 were dealt a blow when Tony Blair lent his support to London.
Speaking at his monthly press conference in Downing Street, Mr Blair said it would be great to stage the event in the capital. But he insisted the Government must consider whether London had a realistic chance of winning the contest before backing a bid. The issue was being considered by MPs today.
"You can't guarantee these things but are we going to have a realistic prospect of winning?" he said.
He told reporters it was essential to assess whether London hosting the Games -- at an estimated £2.5 billion -- would be affordable.
But centering talks on London appears to rule out a bid from another part of the country. Manchester City Council chiefs had hoped Manchester would have been given a chance to put in a joint-bid with cities such as Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield or even London, building on the success of the Commonwealth Games.
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