Moscow’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games has national support, guarantees from the Russian government, and the personal approval of President Vladimir Putin.
Valery Shantsev, chairman of Moscow’s Olympic bid committee, told reporters Friday following the unveiling of its bid dossier, that Moscow is a great sporting city capable of hosting the biggest sports events.
“We already have successful experience of hosting the Olympics and I believe this fact will seriously boost Moscow’s chances to become the 2012 Games capital.”
He added, “Moscow is a city of great sporting traditions. More than 500 champions of different Olympics currently live here”.
Shantsev said Moscow city hall was planning to build not only the Olympic Village for athletes, but also a media village to host up to 17,000 journalists.
He stressed that all Moscow’s sports venues were situated within the city limits that would provide the IOC a rare chance to hold all the competitions, including football and sailing, in one city.
During the first phase of the Olympic race Moscow spent $10.5 million. If Moscow becomes a candidate, Moscow’s budget would be increased to $14.5 and if it becomes the 2012 host city it would go up to $940 million.
Moscow will have 230 first class hotels during the 2012 Games.
Fifty thousand troops would be deployed for security.
Moscow said by 2012 it would eliminate traffic chaos so that athletes would be able to travel from the Olympic Village to the competition venues within 20 minutes.
According to a poll 90 per cent of Muscovites and 89 per cent of Russians are in favour of holding the 2012 Games in Moscow.
The Moscow Summer Games would be held from July 14, to 29.
