Olympic City – 2012. Now it’s down to five leading cities a healthy betting market has developed. But before you bet on the Ken Livingstone-supported London bid check out other international markets. For there is much less enthusiasm about the bid outside the UK as there is in London itself.

For if punters wanting to back London the last place they should put their bets is with a UK bookmaker. The best price here is 3/1 where London is second favourite behind Paris. Betfair have London in third place at about 6.

But the international view is somehwat different. The US-focussed Tradesports has London at about 10 in fourth place above only Moscow. A major factor affecting London is said to be the lack of public support – but judging from the betting markets the punters, at least, are supporting it.

This only shows that what a patriotic group UK gamblers are!