How the bid was won

Olympics:

1997: The British Olympic Association first take decision to urge Government to support a London bid for the Games.

May 2003: London announces the city will bid for the 2012 Olympics.

June 2003: American businesswoman Barbara Cassani appointed as bid chairman.

September 2003: Lord Sebastian Coe becomes bid vice-chairman.

January 2004: Bid questionnaire - the broad outline of the bid - - submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

May 2004: Setback as IOC interim report ranks London third behind Paris and Madrid. Cassani steps down and is succeeded as chairman by Coe.

June 2004: Coe's first move is to announce changes to London's bid to answer IOC criticisms.

August 2004: London sends team to observe the Olympics Games in Athens.

November 2004: Each city submits a candidate file - the detailed plans of their bids - to the IOC.

February 2005: IOC evaluation commission visit London on inspection tour of the five candidate cities.

April 2005: London announce packages of incentives for athletes and sporting bodies only to withdraw them after some concern expressed by IOC president Jacques Rogge.

June 2005: Boost for campaign as IOC evaluation commission issue report ranks the technical bids of London, Paris and Madrid virtually on a par.

July 6, 2005: London is chosen as host city of the 2012 Olympic Games by the 117 IOC members during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore.

2012 British Football Team?

Olympics:

The Football Association are to investigate as a matter of "urgency'" how Great Britain can enter both men's and women's teams in the 2012 London Olympics.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced the capital as the winning bid at lunchtime on Wednesday - a surprise result as Paris had been an odds-on favourite.

The Olympics have not been staged in Britain since 1948, and a newly rebuilt Wembley - scheduled to be completed in time for the FA Cup final in 2006 - is set to play host to the finals of the football tournament.

Britain do not currently field a united team at the Olympics, as it is felt that would jeopardise the independent status of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish football associations.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is, however, agreeable to examining the possibility of making an exception for the London Games, with the onus now on the home nations to come up with a workable solution to the thorny issue.

David Davies, the FA's executive director, represents English, Irish, Welsh and Northern Irish interests on the British Olympic Committee, and he revealed there would soon be talks as to how to move things forward following London's stunning victory.

However, the Scottish Football Association have insisted they would resist the creation of a Great Britain team for the 2012 London Olympics.

The governing body have supported the bid itself but was adamant that a GB team would erode Scotland's status as an independent footballing nation.

The Scots, along with Wales and Northern Ireland, have held independent status since the 19th century and are keen to protect it as much as possible.

As a result, the Scots made it clear they wanted no part in plans to create a team for the 2012 games.

• Give Britain a chance
• Scotland emphasising borders
  

London's Response

Olympics:

Trafalgar Square exploded in jubilation on Wednesday as London's Olympic dream came true.

Thousands crammed into the capital's iconic square to wait anxiously for the announcement.

There was a deathly silence in the moments before London was announced as the successful Olympic city for 2012.

When the good news came the crowd burst into deafening cheers and applause, waving 2012 flags and balloons.

Thousands of multi-coloured pieces of confetti were sprayed into the air, falling down on the celebrating Londoners.

Hundreds of schoolchildren from all over the capital - particularly east London where the Games will be held - were given the day off to come and hear the decision being read out.

Among them was Eltham Hill Technology College, based in Greenwich, south east London.

Twenty five pupils, including two staff, joined in and cheered their support.

Emily Morphitis, who plays for the England under-15 football team, said: "It is so exciting. This is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement and by the time the Games come around, I will be 21."

James Hickman, the 200-metres butterfly swimmer who competed in the last three Olympics, had tears in his eyes when the news came through.

He said: "I am really relieved, for those who have not been involved in the bid they have no idea how much hard work has gone on.

"It is brilliant, it really is amazing and I just can't believe it."

As the carnival atmosphere continued in Trafalgar Square, the Red Arrows flew over in perfect formation, to the delight of the crowd.

London Wins Olympic Vote

Olympics:
Sebastian Coe declared that London had won "the biggest prize in sport" after the 2012 Olympic Games were awarded to the British capital.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced London as the winning bid at 1245 BST on Wednesday, a surprise result as Paris had been an odds-on favourite.

Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated from the race in the hours leading up to the big decision.

The Olympics have not been staged in Britain since 1948, and Lord Coe was thrilled to see his dream realised.

"It's massive, it's huge, it's the biggest prize in sport," said Coe, adding this victory was "entirely on a different planet" to his two Olympic golds, won over 1,500m in 1980 and 1984.

Regarding the actual Games and preparations for them, Coe, who replaced American Barbara Cassani as chair of London 2012 in May 2004, said: "I will be involved. It's been a long year. "We have to look at more than just London and work alongside the IOC. We made commitments and we will stick to them."

Coe will keep his connection to the Games as chairman of the London Organising Committee, as will the superb bid chief executive Keith Mills as vice-chairman.

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell will be the Olympics minister and sports minister Richard Caborn, who vowed work would start straight away, is expected to keep a ministerial connection to the Games.

The announcement by Rogge was greeted with wild delight by the 100 official London delegates at the Raffles Plaza auditorium in Singapore.

The shock decision - London beating Paris by 54 votes to 50 - followed two years of intense planning and constant lobbying of the IOC members.

Paris had been the favourite since the start of the contest to win the vote as this was the third time the French capital had bid.

IOC president Rogge may have been rumoured to favour Paris but he too appeared to be beaming after the result.

Rogge said: "We are very, very pleased with the victory of London. It is a high quality bid from people we know will deliver a superb Games."

He also expressed sympathy for beaten Paris, adding: "It's a cruel competition - and you don't even get a silver or gold."

London's victory followed a passionate and inspirational plea by Coe, who told the IOC members they had the opportunity to be "bold" and vote for London and take the Olympic movement forward.

He appealed "on behalf of the youth of today" and explained how he had been inspired to become an athlete as a 12-year-old by watching the 1968 Mexico Olympics on a black and white TV.

He then went on: "Choose London today and you send a clear message to the youth of the world - that the Olympic Games are for you.

"Some might say your decision is between five similar bids but that would undervalue the opportunity before us.

"In the past you have made bold decisions which have taken the movement forward in powerful and exciting ways.

"It's a decision about which city will help us show a new generation their sport matters, that in a world of many distractions that Olympic sport matters, in the 21st century why the Olympic ideal matters so much.

"On behalf of the youth of today and the Olympics of the future we humbly submit the bid of London 2012."

A recorded message from Prime Minister Tony Blair, plus a speech from Sydney gold medallist Denise Lewis also featured in London's presentation, thought by many to have swung the decision in their favour.

Each of the five cities had been given 45 minutes for a final presentation to the 115 IOC members before the vote.

Later the official voting figures were released, which showed just how tight the decision had been.

In the first round, London received 22 votes, Paris 21, Madrid 20, New York 19 and Moscow 15.

Most of the Moscow voters - perhaps still loyal to Spanish former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, a former ambassador in Moscow - then swung behind Madrid while New York's support ebbed away.

Madrid actually won the second round (Madrid 31, London 27, Paris 25, New York 16) and New York's elimination was great news for London who took a strong lead to win the third round (London 39, Paris 33, Madrid 31).

Then came the final vote - a head to head between London and Paris - which resulted in the historic decision welcomed so warmly by Coe.

2012 Olympic Finances

Olympics:

London plans to spend £2.375billion on new facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games and an additional £1.5billion running the event. But where will the money come from and how will it be spent?

Costs To Olympic Budget

• £1.5billion to run the Games.
• New venues will cost £560million, including £250million on a new Olympic Stadium at Stratford, east London.
• £650million for the athletes' village.
• £200million on security - less than half the amount spent by Athens.
  

Non-Olympic Costs

• The Government will spend £800million redeveloping the Lower Lea Valley - this is not included in the Olympic budget.
• Around £7billion spent on improving London's infrastructure such as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and extension of the East London line.

Income

• A special Olympic Lottery competition will provide £1.5billion.
• International Olympic Committee TV and marketing deals will bring in £560million.
• Sponsorship and official suppliers - £450million.
  Ticket revenues will be £300million.
• £60million will be earned through licensing.
• The London Development Agency are putting in £250million.
• Up to £625million will come from the council tax increase of £20 per year per London household.

Profit/Loss

London 2012 believe they could end the Games with a surplus of more than £100million.