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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Gavin Cordon

Tony Blair backed return of Elgin Marbles to boost London’s Olympics bid, released papers reveal

Tony Blair London Olympics marbles Owen British Museum IOC Athens Parthenon

Tony Blair responded enthusiastically to a proposal to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece in an attempt to boost support for London’s bid to host the Olympic Games, according to newly released official files.

Papers released by the National Archives in Kew, west London, show No 10 advisers believed the Marbles – also known as the Parthenon Sculptures – could be a “powerful bargaining chip” in the race to host the 2012 summer games.

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