Firms are urged to support bid (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Firms are urged to support bid

A SWINDON business leader has urged firms and residents to get behind London's Olympic bid as it enters the final straight.

Barry Lingard, chief executive of the Swindon Initiative, says despite the games being based in London, there would be huge knock-on benefits for Swindon and the south west for the hotel, tourism and leisure industries as well as giving many companies in the service sector the chance to tender for contracts in London.

Mr Lingard said: "Everyone in business ought to be backing this bid, because the benefits would be immense."

Swindon's Chamber of Commerce has also pledged its support to the bid and has organised several events to raise awareness of the benefits. The decision is expected in three weeks' time.