faba Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Paris Leading Bid to Host 2012 Olympics By STEPHEN WILSON, AP Sports Writer 36 minutes ago LONDON - Exactly a month before the vote, front-runner Paris received the best overall review Monday in an IOC evaluation of the five cities bidding for the 2012 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee issued a 123-page report evaluating the bids of Paris, London, New York, Madrid and Moscow - the most competitive and glamorous field in Olympic bid history. London, Madrid and New York also got positive ratings while long-shot Moscow came in for criticism. The report did not rank the cities, but offered an insight into the strength and weaknesses of each bid. It focused on technical issues such as venues, financing, transportation, accommodations, security and public and government support. The findings will serve as a guide for the 117 eligible IOC voting members who will cast secret ballots in Singapore on July 6. The vote, however, also will take into account geopolitical and other issues not covered by the report. The report was based on visits to the five cities in February and March by the IOC evaluation commission, headed by Morocco's Nawal El Moutawakel. Paris has been considered the favorite since the start of the campaign nearly two years ago, and Monday's glowing report only reinforced that status. The IOC also made clear that London, New York and Madrid are worthy contenders. The report didn't include a single negative word about Paris, praising the French capital's sports concept, "excellent accommodation," "high capacity and quality" transportation systems and "well-documented" budget. The report also noted that Paris had "fully taken into account" the IOC's framework for controlling the cost and size of the Olympics. London, which has gained significant momentum in recent months, was praised for the "significant sports and environmental legacies" involved in its plans for regenerating the city's rundown east side. However, the IOC noted that "careful planning would be required to ensure that all facilities are completed on time." It also said that London's improved transportation plans were workable if "fully delivered" before 2012. "This is a springboard for the next 30 days," London bid chairman Sebastian Coe said. "A good evaluation report on its own is not enough to get you over the line, but we're confident we can build on the momentum this bid has enjoyed over the last year." Madrid was cited for sports and environmental legacies. In the only negative comment, the report said Madrid may need to use hotels in cities about an hour away by train to meet Olympic requirements. Madrid organizers said the report "highly values" their plans. New York won generally positive assessments, including one for its potential legacy, but the report cited the continuing uncertainty over its proposed $2 billion stadium on Manhattan's West Side. A vote on the project, crucial to the city's chances, was postponed for a second time Friday and was scheduled for later Monday in Albany, N.Y. The IOC report said "no guarantees were provided" to ensure that the stadium and an international broadcasting center would be built. New York bid leader Dan Doctoroff said he was "absolutely delighted" with the report. "The report makes clear that this race is neck and neck and that New York is firmly in the top tier," he said. "The IOC report has made crystal clear that we're in a great position to win in Singapore on July 6, so long as the stadium is approved." Moscow, considered the outsider all along, received the most stinging comments. "A lack of detailed planning in the candidature file and background information made it difficult for the commission to evaluate the project," the IOC said. The IOC also commissioned its own public opinion survey, and Madrid came out on top with a 91 percent approval rate in the city and 85 percent nationwide. Paris was next (85 percent-79 percent), followed by Moscow (77 percent-76 percent), London (68 percent-70 percent) and New York (59 percent-54 percent). British bookmakers reacted to the report by keeping Paris as the odds-on favorite, with Ladbrokes listing the French city at 1-6 and William Hill at 1-4. London was second at 7-2 and 11-4. Ladbrokes had Madrid third at 16-1 and New York fourth at 33-1 while William Hill rated New York third at 12-1 and Madrid fourth at 33-1. Moscow was 100-1 with both bookmakers. On Sunday, Paris and Madrid staged major street festivals to showcase their bids. The Champs-Elysees in Paris was lined with a running track and featured exhibitions of all 28 Olympic sports. In Madrid, more than 1 million turned out for party centered on the main thoroughfare, the Castellana Boulevard. Moscow last staged the Summer Games in 1980, the United States in 1996 (Atlanta) and Spain in 1992 (Barcelona). Paris, meanwhile, hasn't held the Olympics since 1924, and London since 1948. The campaign has been conducted under strict IOC ethics rules enacted after the scandal over cash, scholarships and other inducements given to IOC members during Salt Lake City's winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games. Ten IOC delegates resigned or were expelled. IOC members have been banned from visiting the 2012 cities while lobbying and promotion by the bidders was tightly controlled. Moscow is widely expected to be the first city eliminated in the voting. Under the IOC system, the city receiving the fewest votes goes out after each round until one candidate gets a majority. 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The Gun Of Bavaria Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Paris will get it. The world, especially those whose members are part of the IOC process, loves the French for their fine military victories over the centuries. We all know Paris will end up getting it, it will be an added ploy for the US haters in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomShane Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Paris will get it. The world, especially those whose members are part of the IOC process, loves the French for their fine military victories over the centuries. We all know Paris will end up getting it, it will be an added ploy for the US haters in the world. Germans only like France because it's the only nation they've ever really beaten in their history. And they only did that because the US had no interest in saving France. Germans. What pussies. As for the Olympics, good. **** the Olympics. To hell with Mary Lou Retton, Nancy Kerrigan and all those gay male gymnasts and their little penis-revealing outfits. It's homoeroticism at its worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gg Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Germans only like France because it's the only nation they've ever really beaten in their history. And they only did that because the US had no interest in saving France. Germans. What pu$$ies. As for the Olympics, good. F#ck the Olympics. To hell with Mary Lou Retton, Nancy Kerrigan and all those gay male gymnasts and their little penis-revealing outfits. It's homoeroticism at its worst. when did the Olympics only have gymnasts? Maybe that is all you watch TS, but frankly i love track and field and swimming... by the by... nancy kerrigan was skating ... winter olympics.. duh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bman Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Paris is awesome.. all of France is.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Paris is awesome.. all of France is.. Paris is very nice, I was pleasently suprised. Nothing was more beautiful then Normandy however, just the landscape was beautiful in itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickkotite Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 the only reason i read this thread was because it was about france and the gun of bavaria responded. and then, gob says something semi nice about france while shane does the damning. i havent been to normandy yet, but im interested. im really into exploring Avion, because rick steeves said so and victor the wild boy of france was found there and i like wild boys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasonJet Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Paris will get it. The world, especially those whose members are part of the IOC process, loves the French for their fine military victories over the centuries. We all know Paris will end up getting it, it will be an added ploy for the US haters in the world. What the sam hell does military victories have to do with getting the olympics? Unfortunately, I've never been to Europe though I would very much like to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Guns was making a joke, J-Mac. Did anyone ever REALLY think the Olympics were coming to New York? C'mon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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