A look at the 2012 Olympic bid cities

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Posted 6:16PM on Tuesday, July 5, 2005

SINGAPORE (AP) Here's a look at the five candidates for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The host city will be selected by the I-O-C in Singapore on Wednesday (in order of presentations): PARIS Population: 2.15 million; 9.64 million in greater Paris. Previous Olympics: 1900 and 1924. Pros: Glamor factor; recent successes in hosting major events; less major infrastructure spending required than leading rivals; best review in IOC technical report; back for third time after failed bids for 1992 and 2008 games; strong French historical links with the Olympics. Cons: Threat of strikes; ecologists' opposition to extension of Roland Garros tennis complex; possible burden of being longtime front-runner. VIPs in Singapore: President Jacques Chirac, Luc Besson, Tony Parker, Marie-Jose Perec. Slogan: L'Amour des Jeux (Love of the Games). Status: Favorite, but not shoo-in. NEW YORK Population: 8 million. Previous Olympics: None. Pros: Cosmopolitan, multiethnic city; huge supply of hotel rooms; police force experienced in counterterrorism and handling international events; symbolism of post-9/11 rebirth. Cons: Lower public support than in other contending cities; 11th-hour revision of stadium plans; North America has 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; anti-U.S. political sentiment. VIPS in Singapore: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Janet Evans, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Ian Thorpe, Nadia Comaneci. Slogan: ``Let the Dreams Begin.'' Status: Outside challenger. MOSCOW Population: 10 million. Previous Olympics: 1980 Summer Games (boycotted by United States and others). 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. Cons: Terrorist attacks connected to the war in Chechnya; uncertainty about political and economic future; IOC concern over ``lack of detailed planning.'' VIPs in Singapore: Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Alexander Popov, Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Slogan: ``Imagine it Now.'' Status: Long shot. LONDON Population: 7.3 million. Previous Olympics: 1908 and 1948. Pros: Legacy offered by regeneration of run-down area of east London; 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. 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. VIPS in Singapore: Prime Minister Tony Blair, David Beckham, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve Redgrave, Daley Thompson, Cathy Freeman. Slogan: ``Make Britain Proud.'' Status: Strong challenger. MADRID Population: 3 million in city center; 5.5 million in greater area. Previous Olympics: None. 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 near proposed Olympic venues; IOC concern over lack of hotel rooms; Spain hosted the games in 1992 in Barcelona. VIPs in Singapore: Queen Sofia, President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Raul, Miguel Indurain, Pau Gasol. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)