Even if Manchester’s hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games is a success, the city can still forget about becoming the British candidate for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Manchester has had two failed bids to host the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.
Craig Reedie, president of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and a member of the International Olympic Committee said, “I was involved in Manchester bids for the Olympics for 13 or 14 years and it was decided some time ago that the BOA would go with a bid by London. The matter is closed”.
He added, “what is clear, however, is that Manchester can organize a very good Commonwealth Games and they have done very well”.
Reedie said that because of a spectacular opening ceremony “there were a lot of ministers there who would have left with a much higher feel-good factor. But the government will not bid on the basis of emotion”.
