LONDON, Dec 31: Man Chester's Olympic bld or ganlsers claimed on Thursday the weather in northern England was preferable to Sydney, their main rivals to stage the 2000 Games, reports Reuter

As the race between the contending cities prepared to begin its final lap. Manchester organisers were reacting to reported comments by Barcelona 100 metres champion Linford Christie. In Australia for warm-weather training, that the British public were 'disillusioned" with the Man Chester bld.

The organising committee reached for the rain gauge and Insisted the city's traditional image as the wet weather capital of England was inaccurate, while maintaining athletes would prefer the Tack of hu midlty" Manchester could offer.

"Perceptions of rainfall when we would host the Games are simply not borne out by the facts," the organis Ing committee sakl In a state ment.

Over the last 10 years, the total monthly rainfall has been 52 mm in July and 78.2 in August, compared with 75 1 tn Sydney tn October when they propose to stage the Games

"Humidity tn Manchester averages about 63 per cent and It is unlikely that Sydney will be as low It was a great deal higher in Barcelona and will also be higher In Atlanta (In 1996)

"Manchester provides an excellent climate for maximum athletic achievement and spectator enjoyment "

The International Olympic Committee wtll choose the venue tn September, with Sydney currently tipped ahead of Beijing and Manchester

Christie was reported as saying the British public "are only hearing about Manchestcr's bld and never seeing concrete results."