BT becomes 2012 Olympic partner

LONDON (Reuters) - BT Group will provide all the Internet and landline links during the London 2012 Olympic Games in return for exclusive marketing rights, it was announced on Wednesday.

The company becomes the latest tier one partner for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) -- the organisation which is responsible for staging the Games.

BT will be responsible for providing all communications services including those for the workforce, venues, athletes, national Olympic committees and the media. It will also manage voice and data networks.

The deal is worth about 50 million pounds, a source close to the deal said.

BT, which declined to comment on the amount, said it had always supported London's bid to host the Games.

Locog said in a statement: "Technology and communication at Games time will be huge logistical operations and BT will be providing the secure, resilient and robust networks required for supporting the communications activities of Locog, the Games bodies and other technology partners."

BT is Locog's fifth tier one partner.

Games chiefs aim to raise 650 million pounds from sponsorship deals.

(Reporting by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Steve Addison)