§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to assist the organisers of the bid to bring the 1996 Olympic Games to Britain.
§ Lord HeskethThe Government wholeheartedly support Manchester's bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games. They have offered the bid team whatever promotional help they can and have already provided assistance in a number of ways. The Prime Minister has written a letter fully supporting the bid to Juan Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and has met the president and chairman of the Manchester bid team to discuss progress. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has written to IOC members endorsing the bid, and our posts overseas are supporting the bid team in its lobbying efforts. The Minister for Sport has met the bid team, visited Manchester to meet an IOC evaluation team and recently attended a dinner in honour of 10 IOC members, hosted by the British Olympic Association. In addition, the Government have provided assurances about paying full regard to the Olympic rules and byelaws and doing all within their power to facilitate entry and unrestricted movement to members of the Olympic family.