Olympic flying petition takes off

Online signatures to British Airways’ flying petition to back London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been soaring in.

The airline is collecting signatures which will adorn the Boeing 747 that carries the bid team to Singapore for the crucial decision on 6 July by the International Olympic Committee.

Prime Minister Tony Blair kicked off the campaign in April, along with London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and double Olympic gold medallist rower James Cracknell.

So far 15,000 have signed and the airline aims to reach a target of 100,000 signatures by the middle of June. The signatures will be scanned onto the plane, which takes off 3 July.

"We've never done anything like this before and the web is a great way to get signatures to seal the bid," said a British Airways spokeswoman.

Signatories names will soar above the clouds and you'll also get the chance to win a mini-break for two to a former European Olympic host city.

To find out more about the petition, click here.