Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne tours Manchester Piccadilly train Station in Manchester, England with Dyan Crowther, Route Managing Director of Network Rail, left, and Alison Monroe, CEO of HS2, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. The British government on Monday unveiled details of new high-speed rail lines linking London to cities in northern England with trains traveling up to 225 miles an hour (360 kph). The government says the project, known as High Speed 2, will be the first new railway built north of London for more than a century, and will be an economic and environmental boon. But opponents claim the plan is too expensive and will ruin tracts of picturesque countryside. (AP Photo/PA, Christopher Furlong) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
Britain relaxes tax rules for London GP
Published: 11:43:02 AM, Thu 07 February 2013 UTC
LONDON (AP) — Britain is waiving its tax rules to lure Usain Bolt and other top international athletes to compete at this summer's Diamond League event in London's Olympic Stadium.
The British government has agreed to an amnesty that will allow foreigners to compete tax-free at the London Grand Prix on July 27 — the anniversary of the opening ceremony of the London Games.
British treasury chief George Osborne says he is "delighted to grant this exemption" and that the government "is determined to do everything possible to secure the Olympic legacy."
Britain imposes taxes on appearance fees and prize money for non-resident athletes when they compete in the country. Bolt, the Olympic champion at 100 and 200 meters, hasn't raced in British meets since 2009 because of the tax rule.
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