Blair and Chirac in Olympic Face Off

Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac will resume barely concealed hostilities in Singapore next month at the vote to decide the venue for the 2012 summer Olympics.

The Elysees Palace confirmed yesterday that the French president will travel to the International Olympic Committee congress to present Paris's case to the IOC, setting him on collision course with Mr Blair, who has already committed to lobbying on behalf of London.

The two leaders, who have clashed repeatedly in the last month over the EU referendum and Britain's rebate, will be seeking to persuade the IOC membership that they offer the greatest political support for the games.

The latest round in the Anglo-French knockabout will see both leaders shuttling to Singapore before the vote on July 6, returning to Europe in time to attend the G8 summit at Gleaneagles, which opens on the same day as the vote.

With Britain assuming the presidency of the G8 Mr Blair will have to return earlier than his adversary, and could be back in the UK when the 116 IOC members cast their vote.

Mr Chirac will be able to linger longer at the congress and will be on stage for Paris's final and potentially decisive presentation to the IOC.

Thanks to the timing of the French presentation, which begins at 9am, M Chirac will be able to make it to Scotland in time for the opening of the G8.

London will be relying on the Olympic presence of bid leader Seb Coe, culture minister Tessa Jowell and mayor Ken Livingstone.

It is the strength of the cultural content of London's Olympic bid that will tip the balance in the UK's favour, according to Jude Kelly.

As she unveiled details of the artistic part of London 2012, Ms Kelly, who chairs the bid's arts, culture and education committee, did admit that she was a "zealot - nay, a Moonie".

She called on her idea for a world cultural festival in 2012 to go ahead, regardless of whether London hosts the games.