A DELEGATION from the North-East will be in London today to promote the bid to bring the Olympics to Britain in 2012.

A conference backing the bid takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.

Tim Cantle-Jones, of the Regional Sports Board, John Williams, of UK Trade and Investment, and Pauline Beaumont, executive director of Culture North-East, will use the conference to discuss the benefits the games could bring to the region's businesses.

If London wins the bid, several football matches would be played at Newcastle's St James' Park, and the North-East delegation believes the Olympics could have a wider economic spin-off for the region.

Mr Cantle-Jones said: "Winning the Games could bring significant benefits in terms of new jobs, more visitors, more investment in sport and sporting facilities and greater participation in sport.