London won the right to host the Olympics in 2012

"Public support for the bid in Scotland has always been amongst the highest in the UK," he said.

The National Stadium at Hampden Park in Glasgow is one of the venues earmarked for the Olympic football competitions.

The Scottish National Party and the Scottish Tories also welcomed the IOC's decision to go to London.

Mr McConnell said: "I would like to congratulate Ken Livingstone, Tony Blair and Lord Coe and his bid team.

"We will now begin plans to capitalise on opportunities for Scotland."

The SNP's sports spokesman, Pete Wishart, said: "It now falls upon London to demonstrate to the rest of the UK that this is a national bid.

"London will secure a massive regeneration programme in the east end and will now secure fantastic new sporting facilities. Now is the time to show what Scotland and the rest of the UK will benefit from London holding the 2012 Olympics."

'Grassroots' sports

Mr Wishart said he hoped that funding for grassroots sports in Scotland, charities and good causes would not be affected by the Olympics.

He said: "Scotland stands to lose up to �70m and I want to be assured that this loss will be covered and there will be no serious impact on grassroots sports in Scotland."

The Conservatives' sports spokesman, Jamie McGrigor, said Scotland could provide more venues for events.

"Fort William is already hosting the World Mountain Biking Championships in September and would seem ideal for any Olympic mountain bike competition," he said.

Let's not forget that Glasgow has also struck gold - we will also be an Olympic City as Hampden yet again plays host to world-class, international football as part of the Games Steven Purcell Glasgow City Council

"I am in no doubt that London will be a great host for the Olympics and I hope Scotland will have the opportunity to play its part in welcoming the World to the United Kingdom and the Games of the XXX Olympiad."

David Williams, chief executive of Events Scotland, said he believed the spin-off for Scotland would be huge in many ways.

He said: "I think the potential benefits to Scotland would run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

"Many of the teams would want to set up pre-training camps in the years leading up to the games, so there is enormous potential for cities and towns around Scotland.

'Enormous focus'

"For business, there will be billions of dollars in contracts for construction, temporary facilities, supplies, equipment, food and clothing.

"With tourism there will be enormous focus on Britain in the lead up to the games and for Scotland it would be the winner because it is one of its great beauty and unique culture."

Former sportscotland chairman Alastair Dempster, chairman of Scotland's London 2012 co-ordinating group, was convinced the country would gain significant benefits from the decision.

Mr Dempster said: "Hosting such a high-profile event in the United Kingdom will undoubtedly help to move sport up the political agenda.

"It will provide selected Scottish athletes with the advantage of competing on home soil as part of Team GB and will enable hundreds of Scots to take part as volunteers and have an experience of a lifetime.

"Scotland will also be able to benefit through a range of commercial contract and tourism opportunities."

Olympic dividend

The leader of Glasgow City Council, Steven Purcell, congratulated London's bid team.

He said: "Let's not forget that Glasgow has also struck gold - we will also be an Olympic City as Hampden yet again plays host to world-class, international football as part of the Games.

"The London bid contained detailed proposals which included plans for athlete training camps and facilities across the UK. We hope that Glasgow will benefit from the Olympic dividend."

Cllr Purcell said the 2012 Olympic Games could bring associated benefits to Glasgow which may help further the city's own aspirations to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.