Becker backs Olympic bid

The bid to bring the Olympics to London in 2012 was boosted today by former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker.

The 38-year-old German, who is at the All England Club commentating for the BBC, believes Wimbledon would be ideal for Olympic tennis.

Becker, who won a gold medal at the Barcelona Games in 1992, agreed to appear at an official London 2012 function today alongside Wimbledon chairman Tim Phillips.

Also at the event, staged to announce the three-times Wimbledon champion's support, was Debbie Jevans, director of

sport for London 2012. Wimbledon has already offered its 19 courts for Olympic competition if the bid is successful.

One Wimbledon official said: "Many of the world's top players say the All England Club is the best place in the world to play tennis and we believe it would be a perfect setting for the Games." The decision on which city will host the summer Olympics in 2012 will be made in Singapore in less than a fortnight, with Paris and Moscow also in the running.

David Beckham will join the London bid party in Singapore, while rival cities New York and Madrid are sending Muhammad Ali, footballer Raul and former Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain.

Tony Blair, French president Jacques Chirac and Spanish prime minister José Œuis Rodriguez Zapatero will also be visiting Singapore in the week of the decision.

The result will be announced at the Raffles City Convention Center and Singapore's tourism board has advised its residents to "keep your hair neat and smile".

The Prime Minister will travel to the island state on 6 July, the day of the International Olympic Committee's vote. London will also be relying on the presence of bid leader Lord Coe, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Mayor Ken Livingstone.

On the day of the vote there will be a free party in Trafalgar Square, with a live broadcast from Singapore of the announcement at 12.46pm.