Twin Cities Mayors Make London Trip With Vikings

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota contingent in London this week isn't just the Vikings gearing up for their cross-Atlantic football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman have made the trip, too, in hopes of drumming up tourism, foreign exposure for their cities and business connections.

Aides to both mayors said Thursday that their bosses are holding meetings with local officials and doing international media interviews in addition to attending Sunday's game at Wembley Stadium.

A spokesman for Coleman says the city convention bureau, Visit St. Paul, is paying the cost of the mayor's travel. Meet Minneapolis, that city's tourism arm, is paying for Rybak's travel costs. They'll be back in Minnesota early next week.