'Get fit for Olympics' - PM urges

[Fiona]

Tony Blair will urge Britain's tourism industry to shape up for the 2012 London Olympics.

At a breakfast meeting in Downing Street, Mr Blair will challenge the industry to ensure that Britain exceeds the £2.5 billion boost which the Australian economy derived from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

The Prime Minister will invite industry leaders to sign up to an Olympic Charter covering issues such as raising the standard of tourist accommodation, making sure that staff have the necessary skills to look after visitors, and ensuring that disabled tourists get proper access to the games.

It will also emphasise the importance of the whole of Britain, not just London, benefiting from the games.

Mr Blair will be joined at the event by Culture, Media and Sport Department minister James Purnell and Lord (Seb) Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games.

The industry will be represented by representatives from the Hilton hotels group, Center Parcs, the Tussauds group, and the Eden Project among others.

ananova.com