THE London Bid Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games has expressed its appreciation for the support it received from Ghana?s boxing hero, Azumah Nelson, during its campaign for the bid.

The committee also expressed gratitude to the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), hosts of the 11th General Congress of the Association of National Olympics in Africa (ANOCA) held in Accra last month.

In an interview with the Graphic yesterday, Mr Robin Gwynn, the acting British High Commissioner to Ghana who spoke on behalf of the committee said the support of both Azumah Nelson and the GOC in no small way enhanced their chances.

?Azumah was more than willing to support the London bid while the GOC as hosts of the last important meeting of the Olympic Movement before the IOC Session in Singapore, provided us with the perfect chance to project our bid, and for that we are grateful,? Mr Gwynn said.

He said within the last 48 hours, friends and well-wishers of Britain based in Ghana had called to congratulate as well as commesirate with the United Kingdom on London?s victory and the bombing tragedy which hit the city barely 24 hours after the IOC announcement.

Mr Gwynn said disgusting and unfortunate as the tragic incident was, it would not affect London?s desire to prepare and host the Olympic Games.

?One of our main highlights in their campaign message was how adequately we would deal with security concerns. The tragic incident only adds up to our determination that we would host an incident free and the best Games ever,? he said with confidence.