SINGAPORE, July 3: In the bad old days it was not entirely unknown for unscrupulous cities bidding to stage the Olympics to offer bribes or favours to secure votes.

That oh-so-20th-century practice was finally stamped on. Now the up-to-date method of choice to influence Olympic votes is seduction by celebrity.

The unprecedented flood of world political leaders and sporting icons pouring into Singapore for Wednesday’s vote to choose the city to host the 2012 Summer Games attests to the new philosophy.

The doors at the VIP lounge at Singapore airport have been revolving at whirlwind speed for days as the city-state becomes the stage for a congregation of celebrities to match the Oscars or the Cannes Film Festival.

No past Olympic bidding campaign has seen anything to compare with a contest which will pit French president Jacques Chirac against British prime minister Tony Blair or American boxing giant Muhammad Ali against England soccer captain David Beckham.

Singapore, whose citizens’ favourite pastime is shopping, has turned to celebrity spotting instead as the Garden City turns into one great photo and television opportunity for the major players on the world’s political and sporting stages. For the first time, five of the most prominent cities are contesting the vote — London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris.—Reuters