People 'doubt Olympics benefits'

Tessa Jowell says the Olympics will benefit all of the UK Olympic minister

Almost three out of four people believe the 2012 Olympics will bring no real benefit to their area, a survey finds.

In London, host city of the Olympics, six out of 10 people said there was nothing really in the Games for them, the survey for BBC's Inside Out found.

Of the 2,000 adults questioned across the UK, just one in five said the Games would inspire them to take exercise.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell insisted the Games would bring unprecedented benefits to all the UK.

"We're not idiots here. We have actually given more thought and careful planning than any other city has ever done before, in making sure that people all round the country have a part in the Games and benefit from the Games," she said.

Some 73% of people thought there would be no noticeable benefit for their region, in the poll at the end of January for current affairs programme Inside Out.

Simon Topman, chief executive of Acme Whistles based in Birmingham, told the BBC that information surrounding the Games was "clouded in bureaucracy".

He said: "It's very hard to find out, despite the fact there are websites out there that you can visit, you have got to be pretty proactive and keep on the job yourself.

"There's all sorts of companies out there who are making things which aren't instantly obvious as connections to the Olympics, but can be."

According to the survey, the public also appear sceptical about one of 2012's other key promises - to use the Games to get the nation fitter.

The poll suggests that only one in five people would be inspired to take part in sport or exercise because of the Olympics.

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