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Blair welcomes Olympic inspectors
2/19/2005
The team inspecting London's 2012 Olympics bid has arrived at Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair, reports BBC.
Opposition leaders Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy are also attending to demonstrate the cross-party political support enjoyed by the bid.
The 16-strong team will only be offered tea and coffee during their visit.
IOC rules say just one 'reception' can be held and that will take place at Buckingham Palace later on Friday.
The meeting at 10 Downing Street will also feature members of the Cabinet and London mayor Ken Livingstone.
Livingstone has been in the headlines during the inspectors' visit over comments he made to a Jewish reporter.
But on Friday, he told the BBC Sport website he was convinced the controversy would not affect the evaluation commission's view of London's bid.
Prime Minister Blair, who is among those who believe Livingstone should apologise, is nonetheless focused on presenting London's case for holding the Games.
Day three of the evaluation commission's visit to London also includes a vital presentation on security by Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
The day ends with the reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by The Queen and Prince Philip.
Organisers of Friday's dinner have pulled out all the stops.
The building will be floodlit with a Royal Standard flying on the roof, while guardsmen in bearskins will be on sentry duty.
The Grand Entrance will be illuminated by Olympic torch-style lighting, with the 46 guests - including the Princess Royal, the prime minister and Zara Phillips - to be greeted by the music of the Coldstream Guards String Quartet.
A pre-dinner drinks reception will take place in the Blue Drawing Room, with a harpist playing before the guests move to the State Dining Room for the meal.
The menu includes roast fillet of sea bass with wild mushrooms, breast of duck with Bigarade sauce, braised chicory, snow peas, rosti potatoes and caramelised pear tart, with Halal chicken on offer for Muslim guests.
After dinner, the guests will retire to the Picture Gallery for coffee and view a collection of Olympic and sporting memorabilia.
"Everyone has worked very hard to make this a special occasion," said a Palace spokeswoman.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is confident that the first two days of the visit have impressed the International Olympic Committee officials.
Bid leader Lord Coe promised to deliver the "best Games ever" on day one on Wednesday.
Thursday saw the delegates taken out on an extensive tour of the city's sporting landmarks, including the proposed main Olympic site in Stratford.
On Saturday - the final day of the visit - London 2012 chief executive Keith Mills will make a presentation on culture and multi-culturalism before Coe's farewell speech.
The commission will then hold its only news conference before they depart.
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