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CJ Cregg Commodore
Joined: 05 Oct 2002 Posts: 1254
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Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:38 am London and Paris given 2012 boost |
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Quote: | London and Paris given 2012 boost
London and Paris have been praised for their "high-quality" bids to stage the 2012 Olympic Games in a crucial inspection report published on Monday.
The International Olympic Committee evaluation commission believes London can deliver promises on venues, transport, the environment and legacy.
Paris, favourite of the five candidates to win, earned a glowing endorsement.
New York and Madrid earned good marks, but Moscow was criticised for a lack of detailed planning.
The 123-page report does not specifically rank or grade cities, but could influence the 117 IOC members when they vote on a host city at a special meeting in Singapore on 6 July.
Paris appears to have emerged as front-runner, scoring highly for its accommodation, transport and budget.
Officials from all five candidate cities are still studying full details of the report, which was released at 1330 BST.
It says that a public opinion poll commissioned by the IOC shows 68% of people in London and 70% throughout the country supported London's bid.
Paris had 85% support in its own capital and 79% throughout France in the November poll.
Accommodation and transport plans for the Games were praised, but the commission said there were no signs of French officials being complacent.
The report states that a London Games would cost �2.36 billion and "the budget is reasonable and achievable".
But some reservations were expressed about the New York, Madrid and Moscow bids.
New York was criticised for a lack of progress with its Olympic Stadium plans, Moscow had problems with its accommodation, security and planning, while Madrid needed more hotel rooms close to the Games.
However, the Spanish bid earned praise for its integrated transport and infrastructure, plus its pledge to hold the "greenest ever" Olympics.
Bookmakers reacted by cutting London and New York's odds, but Paris remain clear odds-on favourites to win the vote.
London found favour with the legacy which a successful Games would leave behind, particularly in the east end, where much of the bid is centred.
The IOC did note that "careful planning would be required to ensure that all facilities are completed on time."
London bid leader Lord Coe said his team were satisfied at the commission's conclusions on factors previously questioned by the IOC, including the location of venues, the ability to handle transport demands, and levels of public and government support.
"I think that we are in a position now to continue to build on the momentum that this bid has enjoyed," he said.
"We are in good shape to take the battle even harder and further towards our goal of bringing the Olympic Games to London in 2012."
Minister for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell added: "I'm enormously proud of the bid's progress - it's strong because we acted so quickly on the content of last year's report.
"We weren't complacent then and we won't be now. Our foot is firmly on the accelerator." |
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