London Latest -- Uncertain Future for Olympic Ministers

(ATR) The British government's leadership of the London Olympics remains unclear today after the national election failed to produce a party with an outright winning majority. But LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe tells Around the Rings the new-look administration will not alter the course of preparations for the Games.

The May 6 election resulted in the first hung parliament since 1974, meaning that Gordon Brown, the sitting prime minister, has the right to try and form a ruling coalition. The Labour party was seeking a fourth term in office.

But the Conservatives won the most seats, 305, in the House of Commons and their leader David Cameron said Brown had "lost his mandate to govern". Cameron today reached out to the Liberal Democrats in efforts to form an administration with the third biggest party, saying he wanted to make a "big, open and comprehensive offer" to them.

The make-up of Britain's new government may not be known for days as the Tories and Labour attempt to negotiate deals to form a ruling coalition.

It's conceivable that Britain's current Olympics minister Tessa Jowell may keep her job in the new-look administration to continue to maintain the momentum of preparations for the London 2012 Olympics that are just 812 days away. Last night, she retained her seat in the House of Commons after being reelected to her south London seat.

Jowell, Olympics minister since 2007, played a leading role in London's bid and is credited with doing a good job in leading government oversight of the Games - helping keep the huge construction project on budget and on time.

But Jowell's involvement in the Olympic project will depend on whether Brown's Labour party can form a minority government and Olympic minister Tessa Jowell both won reelection to their seats in Parliament. (Getty Images) or strike a coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats.

Shadow Olympics minister Hugh Robertson could yet replace Jowell on the London Olympic Board if he is given the Olympics portfolio in a Conservative-led government. Robertson celebrated his third Parliamentary win in Faversham and Mid Kent last night.

Robertson told Around the Rings last month that the Tories would make the London 2012 sports legacy a key priority if they come to power. "The single biggest issue facing London 2012 is the lack of a mass participation sports legacy - which was such a key part of London's bid," he said.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of LOCOG, told ATR this week that a change of government or shake-up of the Olympics ministry would not change the outcome of the London 2012 Olympics.

"I don't believe it will. Clearly all three political parties have signed up to the concept of a great Games with a lasting legacy," he said, in comments to ATR at the Pan American Sports Organization assembly in Merida, Mexico.

Highlighting the work undertaken by LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority in conjunction with Brown's Labour government and a Tory London Mayor, Coe emphasized there was cross-party political support for the project.

"I think that work has been solid enough... whoever nudges across the line and in whatever formation we will be working in close partnership with," Coe said.

Speaking to reporters at SportAccord in Dubai last month, IOC president Jacques Rogge said he had discussed the possibility of a change of government with LOCOG, insisting "we are absolutely at ease there". "There is a multi-party support (for the Games) in the United Kingdom."

Written by Mark Bisson.