LEADING lights behind London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics have today welcomed the county's support for its bid to host the most spectacular show In a letter to Bryony Rudkin, leader of Suffolk County Council, the London 2012 chairman and Olympic Gold medallist Sebastian Coe thanked the region for its "kind words of support" in the fight to hold the Games in eight years' time.

LEADING lights behind London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics have today welcomed the county's support for its bid to host the most spectacular show

In a letter to Bryony Rudkin, leader of Suffolk County Council, the London 2012 chairman and Olympic Gold medallist Sebastian Coe thanked the region for its "kind words of support" in the fight to hold the Games in eight years' time.

Lord Coe said: "Momentum is building behind our campaign and I am proud of what we have achieved in becoming a Candidate City.

"I am delighted that Suffolk County wants to demonstrate support for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid. We are already receiving very positive support from both the public and private sectors."

London was shortlisted with Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow and now has until July next year to beat off its rivals under the watchful eye of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The voters, a 128-strong group from the IOC, like to see how the whole country will benefit, so regional support will be vital over the next year.

Jackie Brock-Doyle, of London 2012, said: "One of our aims is to generate significant public support for the bid. It is helping us to spread the message that it is not just a London thing. County councils that understand the opportunities are likely to benefit the most.

"When you look at the parade after the Rugby World Cup, the Queen's Jubilee and Wimbledon, the Olympics will be all these things but times 28 sports.

"From our point of view this is a Games for the UK. It comes down to communicating the benefits to the people in the community."

The county council will be discussing these issues with Sport England, an organisation responsible for delivering the government's sporting objectives, to see how best the region's assets can be used.

Kevan Lim, councillor for social and economic regeneration, said: "We are pleased with Sebastian Coe's response. Obviously, we will be looking forward to discussing with the Olympic Bid Committee and organisations like Sport England about how Suffolk can help."

Do you want to support the bid? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk.

Opinion - see page 6

BID TIMELINE

May 18: IOC cuts down shortlist to five cities - London, Paris, Moscow, Madrid and New York.

June 26: The Olympic torch is carried through vast crowds in London on its way to this year's Athens Games.

November 15: A final formal bid must be handed in to IOC.

March 2005: Each bidding city spends a week hosting the IOC's evaluation commission, which consists of 10-15 IOC members.

May 2005: Commission reports its findings.

July 2005: The IOC's 128 members meet in Singapore to choose the host city for the 2012 Games.