The 2012 Olympic Games will not be kicked around as a political football in upcoming elections, the minister in charge said Wednesday -- though she added she hoped she would still be in charge of them after the polls.

"We're going all out to win the election, and if we win the election, I would regard it as a great privilege to take this through to 2012," Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell told reporters in Sao Paulo as she began a three-day visit to Brazil.

"But I think that the important point is that we have purposely and purposefully developed the games as beyond party. These games... belong to the nation. They don't belong to any particular government," the Labour minister said.

Jowell was in Brazil along with British business leaders to drum up opportunities for British companies looking to transfer Olympic know-how to the following Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The visit took place just before election campaign frenzies are to break out in both Britain and Brazil.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is widely expected to call a general election for May 6. Surveys suggest a narrow win for the opposition Conservatives, and a hung parliament.

Brazil's legislative and presidential elections are to take place October 3, with campaigning to begin next month.

Jowell said preparations for the 2012 Olympics were "on budget and on time" and asserted organizers had successfully stepped around potential pitfalls by sticking to plans and over-delivering on promises.

She said her trip was to "download the rationale and our experience" to the Brazilian government, but added: "It's for the Brazilian leaders to accept or reject as they think relevant to their country."

And she emphasized that the experience-sharing was a two-way street, with Britain keen to pick up tips on how Brazil won the right to host the 2014 football (soccer) World Cup.

"We hope to host the 2018 World Cup. So I hope I can pick up some tips about how you win the World Cup bid to take back to our bidding team," Jowell said.