Brown to cut deal with Zimbabwe over 2012 Olympics

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Zimbabwe could be allowed to take part in the London Olympics if it agrees to pull out of a cricket tour of England next year.

The Government is said to have proposed the secret deal to avoid an African boycott of the 2012 Games. But the Tories said no team from the southern African state should be let in while Robert Mugabe is president.

On Thursday sources close to the Prime Minister said scrapping the cricket tour would allow Britain to 'stand up and be counted' by refusing to tolerate Mugabe's murderous regime.

But yesterday, sources said the Government would let a team from the country enter the Olympics if Mr Mugabe axed the cricket tour.

Tory foreign affairs spokesman David Lidington said: "This is a classic case of Gordon Brown spinning different stories to different people.

"One day he tries to sound tough, the next day we find he is planning a secret deal."

Mr Lidington described Mugabe's corruption and "wilful mismanagement" as "sickening", ading: "The Government has allowed his regime to carry on unchallenged for too long."

Ministers fear that if the cricket tour is called off, Mugabe may pull his teams out of future English sporting events, such as next year's World Twenty20 cricket championship and the Olympics. Scroll down for more

Ministers feel that if the cricket tour is called off, Mugabe may pull his teams out of future English sporting events

That would raise the prospect of a boycott by a range of African nations, such as South Africa.

Officials believe the inclusion of a Zimbabwean team at the Olympics would be less embarrassing as it would be only one out of more than 150.

A Government source said: 'Negotiations have been going on for some months.

"The Government is giving the cricket authorities very close support. There's no way Mugabe is going to be allowed to let his team play here.

"The major problem is ensuring that does not give him any justification to accuse the old colonial power of slighting Zimbabwe which results in the whole of Africa boycotting 2012."