Mayor Ken Livingstone is drafting a formal proposal outlining how much money London will provide to host the Olympic Games.

This comes after the Government asked for written commitment about financial backing for the Games.

"If the government requires yet more persuasion I am happy to provide it," said Mr Livingstone.

"I am confident that no one in London will want to wreck this historic opportunity to bring the Olympic Games to London in 2012."

The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives on the Greater London Assembly have already signalled their backing for the bid to host the 2012 Olympics, he said.

Candidates for the next Mayoral elections in 2004 would also be invited to show their support for the bid, and providing the written statement to the Government was a "formality", he said.

Meanwhile, the Government may delay making its decision on the bid for another two weeks.

Ministers delayed making a decision on a London bid for the 2012 Olympics, as discussion of war against Iraq continues to dominate the Government agenda.

The Olympics decision was to be released after yesterday's Cabinet meeting, but ministers will now mull over the bid for the next fortnight before an announcement is made.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said sports minister Tessa Jowell presented the details of the bid to her cabinet colleagues, including details which would be new to some ministers.

"It therefore seemed only sensible to have a period in which they could reflect and mull over what they had heard," the spokesman said.

Pressure has been growing on the Government to support the bid, with a host of sporting, entertainment, and political figures calling for London to enter the contest.

New York, Madrid and Moscow are already confirmed as competitors, and Paris is likely to join the race to host the 2012 Games.

British Olympic officials say the bid would fail without Government support.

January 31, 2003 09:30