The mere expectation that he would participate in next month's Hawaii Ironman championship in Kona started people booking hotel rooms as early as March.

WSJ: Triathlons Part Waters for Lance Armstrong

He told MPs that a "tranche" of hotel rooms had recently been made available after the cancellation of a block-booking by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog).

BBC: Jowell attacks 'scandal' of Olympic hotel prices