Spain's PM says bid for 2012 Games unites country

Spain is united behind Madrid's bid to host the 2012 Olympics, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told inspectors weighing up the city when he kicked off their four-day visit yesterday.

Madrid has rolled out the red carpet for the evaluation team, with catering by world-famous chef Ferran Adria, testimony from political heavyweights including the interior minister and a tour of some of the city's most famous sporting sites.

It is also keen to highlight widespread support for the bid, which is backed by about 90 per cent of the city's residents according to one poll, as competitor London prepares to deal with anti-bid protests during its evaluation tour.

"Nothing unites Spain more than 'Madrid 2012'. I have told the committee... that the Olympic bid has made all Spaniards feel like citizens of Madrid," Zapatero told journalists after his closed-door speech to the 13 visitors.

He was also keen to stress that the country was prepared to splash out to make the Games special.

"Our economic outlook allows us to guarantee that the 2012 games in Madrid could be spectacular and mark an era of new successes for the Olympic movement," Zapatero said.

Security is another concern in the wake of the March 2004 Madrid train bombings, and with Basque separatist guerrillas ETA showing no signs of laying down their weapons.

But the mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, also sought to reassure the inspectors that there would be special security arrangements.

The other bidding cities besides London are Paris, Moscow and New York. The winner will be announced on July 6.