LONDON (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair called on the nation to show their "passion" for London winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell told ministers after a presentation of the bid before the Cabinet that the bid was winnable, while bid boss Lord Sebastian Coe stressed the lasting sporting legacy it would provide for the country.
"The Prime Minister praised the technical quality of the bid which he believed was superior to the others, but he underlined that London and the country as a whole needs to show it is passionate about the bid, and that passion has to be shown," Blair's official spokesman said Thursday.
"What will impress the Olympic committee is the passion of this country and London for this bid.
"He believes that passion exists and the next few weeks and the next few months is the time for the country to really show it wants the Olympics to come here in 2012."
Lord Coe, the only man to win two Olympic 1500 metres titles, told ministers this was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for Britain.
Political support was "very important", both nationally and internationally, as London prepared to lodge its final submission to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in November, he said.
"It is a message we have to drive home all the time and that is why speaking to the Cabinet was so important, because they have the ability to say in keynote speeches they will help and to have it written large," he added.
The British capital is one of five candidate cities to host the Games, the others being Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris. The winning bid is to be announced in Singapore in July 2005.