 |
|
||
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
   | 
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Rogge opens crucial IOC session
SINGAPORE -- International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge opened their four day annual session in Singapore on Tuesday, telling delegates they had a tough decision to make between the five cities competing for the 2012 Olympics. "The election ... will not be easy in view of the very high quality of the candidates," Rogge told members who must choose between London, Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow. The IOC will also have to decide which of 28 sports remains in the Games. If any are excluded they will also have to decide from a list of five which to introduce. But it is the hotly-contested race for the 2012 Games that will occupy the minds of the 99 members eligible to vote on Wednesday. "Four cities will, of course, be deeply disappointed but they should know that a candidature, even if it is not selected, leaves a tangible legacy," said Rogge. Earlier on Tuesday, French President Jacques Chirac arrived to boost Paris's bid. Paris is regarded as favorite but faces a growing challenge from London and a potential threat too from Madrid and New York. Chirac arrived in the city state two days after British Prime Minister Tony Blair landed to promote London's bid with IOC members. "I have come here to support one candidacy," the French President said. "We are in the Olympic world -- that means fair play, that means that the best should win and that is what I want. And naturally I want the best to be Paris." Unlike Blair, Chirac has not been meeting individual members but he will take part in the presentation of Paris's bid to the IOC on Wednesday. The Paris delegation is well aware that favorites have often appeared jinxed in the past. Three of the last four votes for Summer Games hosts were won by candidates who had not been considered as frontrunners. Blair was flying home on Tuesday to host the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, where Chirac will join him after the result of the vote has been announced. The decision is expected shortly after 7:30 p.m local time (1130 GMT). Reuters contributed to this report. 
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
