Coe sells Brum the Olympic dream

Jun 25 2007 By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

OLYMPIC supremo Seb Coe arrives in Birmingham today on a major charm offensive to sell the 2012 London Games to the West Midlands.

Lord Coe will be joined by fellow Olympic Gold Medallist Denise Lewis and Government minister Tessa Jowell as they face a public question time session at the ICC tonight.

It is the first of part of a national tour aimed at promoting benefits of the London Games to the provinces.

And to coincide with the visit Tessa Jowell is writing exclusively in today's newspaper to outline Olympic spin offs for the people of Birmingham.

She highlights a series of direct benefits to the city including Villa Park hosting football matches and Birmingham winning the American track and field team training camp.

The team, which includes Sir Roy McNulty, acting chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority will also appear on local radio phone-ins this evening.

Denise Lewis, former Birchfield Harrier and ethusiastic supporter of the London Games, said: "I am from the West Midlands - born and bred - and I know that local people won't be afraid to say what they think."