Express 24h

He insisted that the Games will provide a critical confidence boost to help stimulate the economy, not just in the United Kingdom but around the world.

Hunt said there were defined economic benefits to be gleaned from hosting the Games, which open in six months time, with the Government expecting £2.5 billion over the next three years in direct tourism boosts.

"This isn't just about tangible benefits," said Hunt as he revealed he was working alongside theTreasury on anticipated GDP benefits.

"If we get the Games right we can transform confidence. This is a unique opportunity to bang the drum and if we get it right we can have a tremendous impact. We hope it has a boost for global confidence too."

Hunt said he wanted to encourage visitors to the country and not scare them away with headlines about transport queues and congestion.

"It will take longer to get around, we expect that, but we will do everything possible to ensure transport is smooth," he said, before adding that he expected 700,000

Games organisers today released a rolling programme of 42 key moments leading up to the opening ceremony on July 27.

With the Olympics fast approaching Olympic bosses were keen to eliminate some of the myths surrounding the Games and to reassure the British public that readiness, tickets, transport costs and legacy were under control.

Locog chief executive Paul Deighton said the one million applicants who missed out on tickets in the UK ballot would be given a priority listing in the next release of tickets in April and he warned the robustness of the ticketing website was "reputationally significant" for sponsors Ticketmaster.

Meanwhile, the British Olympic Association has been given some heavyweight support for their upcoming drugs hearing at the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

Both the Government and the Locog chairman Lord Coe have written in support of the BOA's long standing life time ban from Olympic teams of drug cheats.

"I have written a supportive letter, I have a long and robust history [of supporting the rule]," said Coe.

The Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said the Government was entirely supportive of the BOA and their lifetime ban.