Olympic Games 2012

Mr. Watson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009, Official Report, column 1036W, on Olympic Games 2012, how many heads of state and government he expects to visit the UK during the London 2012 Olympics; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of hosting such visitors.

Chris Bryant
Based on the experience of Beijing and previous Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, we are expecting more than 100 Heads of State and Government to visit the UK for the Games. Their principal costs will be met by the body that invites and hosts them, usually their respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee.