BBC documentary accuses Olympics of corrupt voting

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched an investigation into claims that its members are prepared to sell their votes to cities bidding to stage the 2012 Games, including London.

The inquiry was launched after allegations by BBC's Panorama programme that the bidding process was corrupt despite IOC efforts to clean it up in the wake of recent scandals.

During a year-long investigation, undercover reporters posed as consultants acting for businessmen in east London with a financial interest in bringing the Games to the capital and filmed conversations with agents claiming to have contacts with the IOC.

These agents said that they could secure votes in return for cash and even boasted that they had been approached by each of the five cities bidding to stage the 2012 Games. It is believed that the Panorama programme has also recorded a conversation with one IOC member from Europe who offers to sell his vote to support the London bid.