London Games ahead of schedule - Blair - Sport in brief

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Blair's support when in office was instrumental in winning the bid and with the Olympics three years away he is confident the organisers will deliver a successful Games.

"They're ahead of schedule on most of the building which is incredible at this stage and the preparations are going extremely well," Blair said. "If you take where most bids have got to at this stage they have done a remarkable job. The delivery of the infrastructure and the stadiums has been done superbly."

He believes London would still have bid for the Games even in the current climate of recession.

"It would be crazy not to," said Blair, who was speaking on BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"The commercial and business spin-off is enormous. Look at the last two Olympics, Athens and Beijing. Both cities have been transformed and both countries benefited enormously.

"For me if you can get the Olympics as a country these days it is a complete no-brainer. Do it.

"The legacy will be in the facilities created but it will be phenomenal in generating interest in sport among young people. I am a passionate believer that sport is a great social policy as well as great fun."