Commons date is coup for Games bid

British Olympic chiefs have pulled off a coup in the race for the 2012 Games by getting the go-ahead for a House of Commons reception in May for a handful of International Olympic Committee members.

London and the four other bidding cities are banned by the IOC's anti-corruption body from arranging special receptions for IOC officials in the run-up to July's vote.

But the British Olympic Association have won special permission from the IOC's ethics commission to celebrate their centenary with a dinner at the Commons on 24 May for five IOC members, including president Jacques Rogge.

The ethics commission have written to the members, who are all senior figures in the Association of National Olympic Committees, telling them they are happy that London will not promote its bid at the occasion.

There is no problem with Rogge attending since he will not take part in the 2012 vote in Singapore. The IOC chief accepted the invitation months ago.

But London's rivals will be impressed today that Britain has been successful in inviting Sweden's Gunilla Lindberg, the most senior woman in international sport, and Mexico's Mario Vazquez Rana, a serious powerbroker in the South American Olympic movement.

Ireland's Patrick Hickey, a leading figure in the European Olympic Association, is also said to have been invited. Hickey's support is important to London's bid since he holds a great deal of influence in Eastern Europe.

Officials from favourites Paris would not comment on the decision today, saying it was a matter between the BOA and the IOC.

But Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow will be unable to make any successful protests to the ethics commission since they have already given the go-ahead for the dinner.

London, however, will be stopped from making any presentation although it would be a huge surprise if bid leader Seb Coe did not attend the occasion as a former Olympic and member of the House of Lords.