Marathon hands bid a £3m lift

London Marathon officials today pledged a £3million boost for athletics and grass-roots sport if the capital wins the race to host the 2012 Olympics.

The charitable trust set up by the world's biggest race promises to contribute £300,000 annually over 10 years to help safeguard the future of the Olympic Stadium and the indoor arena that will be built should London prevail in the International Olympic Committee's vote to decide the 2012 venue, in Singapore in July.

The idea is to ensure that the planned showpiece stadium would still be able to continue staging top-flight athletics as well as being used as a community facility after the Games.

The news has delighted London 2012 bid organisers as they prepare to put their case to the IOC's evaluation commission, which visits the capital next week.

The potential legacy of a Games to the host city is one of the areas that will be examined most closely.

Sebastian Coe, the bid chairman, said: "This is fantastic news. This is what winning an Olympic bid is all about - putting in place a lasting legacy and much needed infrastructure, both for the local community and for our elite athletes." Under the terms of the legacy, the London Marathon and London 2012 have signed an agreement that the organisation that runs the facilities after the Games should be a non-profit organisation and would make the facilities available to the public.

The Olympic stadium must retain a running track capable of hosting international events, so that would mean a viable alternative in the capital to Crystal Palace as a venue for major track-andfield events.

The London Marathon Trust was set up by race founders Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981 to distribute funds to worthy sporting causes in the capital's 33 boroughs. Total grants this year topped £16m.

Disley said: "The Trust is extremely excited to be able to make a significant contribution to sporting facilities in London and the UK.

"They will provide a focus for sporting excellence and high performance and will be managed by Londoners so that athletes striving for international success can inspire grass-roots participation."