Just days before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces its short list for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, some of the nine cities bidding for the Games are bracing for the decision in several ways.
London 2012 bid leaders launched a drive to win support from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the rest of England for their campaign to bring the Games to London. ITV chairman Charles Allen, deputy chairman of the bid, held an inaugural meeting Thursday of representatives from the home nations and regional sports bodies to discuss how they can benefit from a London Games, through athletes’ preparation camps and Olympic events like the football tournament.
The Spanish Minister of Sports met Thursday morning with IOC President Jacques Rogge to discuss Madrid’s 2012 candidature. He called it a “warm and extremely positive meeting”.
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, met Tuesday with State Governor Rosinha Garotinho and expressed his thanks for the support of state officials for Rio 2007 and the candidacy for the 2012 Summer Games.
Leipzig 2012 is planning extensive television coverage of the 2012 short list announcement on May 18. There will also be a concert celebrating the event.
And if Paris is on the short list Paris 2012 announced it will immediately unveil an upgraded version of its Web site.
Moscow 2012 has unveiled plans to build a “unique” Olympic village along Moskva River. If Moscow wins the bid city authorities will locate the venues for all sporting events on the same small area, according to the Echo of Moscow radio station. The village is to be built in the north west of Moscow in an area of 80 hectares that would accommodate more than 20,000 sportsmen, coaches and guests.
