Blair and Beckham lead Olympic push.

Byline: By HELEN WILLIAM

PRIME minister Tony Blair and socer star David Beckham were last night leading a last-minute charm offensive to secure the 2012 Olympics for London - as a new row flared with leading rival Paris.

Mr Blair hailed the capital's 'brilliant' bid to host the games and said the event would provide a 'wonderful legacy' for British sport.

He was addressing a reception at the high commissioner's residence in Singapore, attended by a glittering array of sporting stars led by David Beckham.

Mr Blair, speaking alongside Lord Coe and his bid team, told guests: 'These guys are amazing. They are absolutely fantastic and they have done a job for our country of which they can be - and we are - very proud.'

Mr Blair, who was joined by wife Cherie, added: 'We want it to be a marvellous Games not just for our country but for the Olympic movement, the Olympic ideals and the Olympic spirit.'

Dignitaries at the event included the Princess Royal, Sir Steve Redgrave, Daley Thompson, Jonathan Edwards, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Denise Lewis, David Hemery, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Sir Bobby Charlton.

French officials were earlier angered by critical comments about the centrepiece Paris stadium - the Stade de France - made by two Australian consultants to the London bid.

Jim Sloman, the former chief operating officer of the Sydney Games, and architect Rod Sheard, had claimed at a press conference that the arena was not ideal for athletics, prompting anger from the Paris bid team.

Though the French team decided not to make an official complaint, relations have been further strained following comments said to have been made by French President Jacques Chirac.

Speaking ahead of the G8 conference in Scotland, the politician reportedly told German and Russian leaders that all Britain has ever done for European agriculture is 'mad cow'.

He is also quoted as telling diplomats: 'We can't trust people who have such bad food.'

Mr Blair, who is due to head off to the G8 summit in Scotland before Wednesday's International Olympic Committee vote on Wednesday, refused to trade barbs with French president Jacques Chirac.

Asked what he would say to the French president if London won, he replied: 'I just hope I'm commiserating with him rather than congratulating him - but it's not about the rivalry between France and the UK, never mind the two of us.

'All these cities are big powerful cities with good bids.'

Bookmakers Ladbrokes said they believe Paris is losing ground in the race to become the host city.

Spokesman Warren Lush said odds on the French capital winning had drifted from 1/4 to 2/7