London 2012 is offering the money to every country that bases itself in Britain during the build-up to the Games as an incentive to set up a training camp.

 

The controversial scheme, which upset London's rivals during the bid process and had to be withdrawn, is expected to cost London 2012 up to £9 million.

 

He said after meeting Jamaica's Sports Minister Olivia Grange (pictured) in Kingston: "We recognise it might not make a huge difference to the Americans, Germans or Australians, but the average national Olympic committee or 50 per cent typically bring 10 athletes or less to the Olympic Games so that would be quite a contribution.

 

"The reason we did that is based on my prime purpose which is to make these (2012) a great Games for the athletes and that's not just about building great venues, but also about making sure they are given the opportunity to prepare properly and not be disadvantaged because they are not in a position to base themselves in the United Kingdom."

 

Coe was visiting the Caribbean island for the first time as a guest of the Salvation Army and was guest speaker at a fund-raising dinner hosted by that body last night.

 

He said that he hoped Britain's West Indian community, which numbers approximately 600,000 in London, would feel fully engage with the Olympics.

 

Coe said: "This is why it is very important that when we are delivering a Games we are also making those Games accessible, thinking about programmes like home stay programmes.

 

"We want to make sure that the families of athletes go and watch them and linking up those Caribbean communities in London with communities elsewhere.

 

"In essence we want to make sure that every Jamaican athlete is running in front of a home crowd."