Team Tibet, as they call themsa sprinter, a 10,000 metres runner, a marathoner, shot-putter, a table tennis player and a cyclist who are all based in Switzerland.

 

But the attempt is almost certain to fail as the IOC turned down a similar request before the Beijing Olympics as they ruled Tibet was part of China.

 

The IOC Charter rules that only independent countries are allowed to compete in the Olympics, which is why any similar attempt by Scotland will also not be allowed.

 

Macau, another part of China, are also hoping to launch a bid to be allowed to compete in London.

 

Tibet's slim chances, however, has not stopped Australian cyclist Cadel Evans, the runner-up in this year's Tour de France, offering to act as an ambassador for the group.

 

He said: ''If something happens and they suddenly need a sports person from another sport, or from another culture, I would certainly try to be as available as I possibly could for them."

 

The build-up to Beijing was dominated by protests from Free Tibet, who disrputed the worldwide torch relay when it visited several countries, most notably in London on April 6.

 

Evans claimed that Team Tibet did not want to be defined by politics.

 

He said: ''For London they want to focus more on the sport side of things, to go there and actually be a part of the sport."