GaryMrMets
07-01-2005, 12:52 AM
Capsules of the 2012 Olympic bid cities
.c The Associated Press
SINGAPORE (AP) - A look at the five candidates for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The host city will be selected by the IOC in Singapore on Wednesday:
LONDON
Population: 7.3 million.
Previous Olympics: 1908 and 1948.
Major sporting events hosted: London Marathon, Wimbledon, Premier League soccer, 1996 European soccer championship, 1999 rugby union World Cup, 1966 soccer World Cup.
Pros: Legacy offered by regeneration of run-down area of east London; strong support of Prime Minister Tony Blair; cosmopolitan, multiethnic city; backdrop of London's famous sites; effective campaign run by bid leader and former two-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion Sebastian Coe; Britain hasn't hosted games since 1948.
Cons: IOC caution over completion of Olympic Park project on time; creaking Underground subway and concerns about road traffic; opposition of nearly 100 businesses in main proposed Olympic zone.
Status: Challenging Paris.
Bookmaker Odds (William Hill): 7-2.
MADRID
Population: 3 million in city center; 5.5 million in greater area.
Previous Olympics: None.
Major sporting events hosted: 50 world and European championships over past decade; 1982 soccer World Cup; 2004 European Swimming Championships; 2005 European Indoor Athletics Championships; 2005 World Taekwondo Championships.
Pros: Compact, low-cost project; economic and efficient metro system reaches more than 80 percent of venues; strong support of royal family; lobbying efforts by former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch; only major European capital that has never hosted the games.
Cons: Security worries after terrorist attacks on commuter trains last year and series of bombs set off by Basque group ETA near proposed Olympic venues; IOC concern over lack of hotel rooms; Spain hosted the games in 1992 in Barcelona.
Status: Dark horse.
Odds: 20-1.
MOSCOW
Population: 10 million.
Previous Olympics: 1980 Summer Games (boycotted by United States and others).
Major sporting events hosted: 2005 world figure skating championships; 2002 Greco-Roman wrestling world championships; 2002 swimming short-course world championships.
Pros: Compact plan with most venues in the city limits along or near the Moscow River; many venues still exist from 1980 games; Russia's tradition as Olympic power; use of games as spur for development and democracy in post-Soviet Russia.
Cons: Terrorist attacks connected to the war in Chechnya; doubts about Russia's commitment to the rule of law; laborious visa requirements; IOC concern over ``lack of detailed planning.''
Status: Long shot.
Odds: 50-1.
NEW YORK
Population: 8 million.
Previous Olympics: None.
Major sporting events hosted: U.S. Open tennis championship; New York Marathon; numerous baseball World Series and other professional league championships.
Pros: Cosmopolitan, multiethnic city; huge supply of hotel rooms; police force experienced in counterterrorism and handling international events; Big Apple has never had the games; symbolism of post-9/11 rebirth; effective campaign by bid leader and deputy mayor Dan Doctoroff.
Cons: Lower public support than in other contending cities; 11th-hour revision of bid after rejection of plan for Olympic stadium in Manhattan; North America has 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; anti-U.S. political sentiment; antipathy toward President Bush.
Status: Outside challenger.
Odds: 25-1.
PARIS
Population: 2.15 million; 9.64 million in greater Paris.
Previous Olympics: 1900 and 1924.
Major sporting events hosted: 1998 soccer World Cup, 2003 athletics World Championships, French Open tennis championships.
Pros: Glamor factor; close proximity of venues to the Olympic village; smooth-running transport network; recent successes in hosting major events; existing Olympic stadium in Stade de France; world renowned tourist sites; top-level government backing; Paris is back for a third time after failed bids for 1992 and 2008 games; strong French historical links with the Olympics; France hasn't had summer games since 1924.
Cons: Threat of strikes; ecologists' opposition to extension of Roland Garros tennis complex; France's rejection of the proposed European Union constitution; danger of being the front-runner for so long.
Status: Favorite.
Odds: 1-6.
06/30/05 22:01 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.c The Associated Press
SINGAPORE (AP) - A look at the five candidates for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The host city will be selected by the IOC in Singapore on Wednesday:
LONDON
Population: 7.3 million.
Previous Olympics: 1908 and 1948.
Major sporting events hosted: London Marathon, Wimbledon, Premier League soccer, 1996 European soccer championship, 1999 rugby union World Cup, 1966 soccer World Cup.
Pros: Legacy offered by regeneration of run-down area of east London; strong support of Prime Minister Tony Blair; cosmopolitan, multiethnic city; backdrop of London's famous sites; effective campaign run by bid leader and former two-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion Sebastian Coe; Britain hasn't hosted games since 1948.
Cons: IOC caution over completion of Olympic Park project on time; creaking Underground subway and concerns about road traffic; opposition of nearly 100 businesses in main proposed Olympic zone.
Status: Challenging Paris.
Bookmaker Odds (William Hill): 7-2.
MADRID
Population: 3 million in city center; 5.5 million in greater area.
Previous Olympics: None.
Major sporting events hosted: 50 world and European championships over past decade; 1982 soccer World Cup; 2004 European Swimming Championships; 2005 European Indoor Athletics Championships; 2005 World Taekwondo Championships.
Pros: Compact, low-cost project; economic and efficient metro system reaches more than 80 percent of venues; strong support of royal family; lobbying efforts by former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch; only major European capital that has never hosted the games.
Cons: Security worries after terrorist attacks on commuter trains last year and series of bombs set off by Basque group ETA near proposed Olympic venues; IOC concern over lack of hotel rooms; Spain hosted the games in 1992 in Barcelona.
Status: Dark horse.
Odds: 20-1.
MOSCOW
Population: 10 million.
Previous Olympics: 1980 Summer Games (boycotted by United States and others).
Major sporting events hosted: 2005 world figure skating championships; 2002 Greco-Roman wrestling world championships; 2002 swimming short-course world championships.
Pros: Compact plan with most venues in the city limits along or near the Moscow River; many venues still exist from 1980 games; Russia's tradition as Olympic power; use of games as spur for development and democracy in post-Soviet Russia.
Cons: Terrorist attacks connected to the war in Chechnya; doubts about Russia's commitment to the rule of law; laborious visa requirements; IOC concern over ``lack of detailed planning.''
Status: Long shot.
Odds: 50-1.
NEW YORK
Population: 8 million.
Previous Olympics: None.
Major sporting events hosted: U.S. Open tennis championship; New York Marathon; numerous baseball World Series and other professional league championships.
Pros: Cosmopolitan, multiethnic city; huge supply of hotel rooms; police force experienced in counterterrorism and handling international events; Big Apple has never had the games; symbolism of post-9/11 rebirth; effective campaign by bid leader and deputy mayor Dan Doctoroff.
Cons: Lower public support than in other contending cities; 11th-hour revision of bid after rejection of plan for Olympic stadium in Manhattan; North America has 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; anti-U.S. political sentiment; antipathy toward President Bush.
Status: Outside challenger.
Odds: 25-1.
PARIS
Population: 2.15 million; 9.64 million in greater Paris.
Previous Olympics: 1900 and 1924.
Major sporting events hosted: 1998 soccer World Cup, 2003 athletics World Championships, French Open tennis championships.
Pros: Glamor factor; close proximity of venues to the Olympic village; smooth-running transport network; recent successes in hosting major events; existing Olympic stadium in Stade de France; world renowned tourist sites; top-level government backing; Paris is back for a third time after failed bids for 1992 and 2008 games; strong French historical links with the Olympics; France hasn't had summer games since 1924.
Cons: Threat of strikes; ecologists' opposition to extension of Roland Garros tennis complex; France's rejection of the proposed European Union constitution; danger of being the front-runner for so long.
Status: Favorite.
Odds: 1-6.
06/30/05 22:01 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.