Representatives of the top five competitors to host the 2012 Olympics gathered in Singapore for the crucial election Paris: A 200-strong delegation represented Paris 2012 in Singapore during the 117th session of the International Olympic Committee, which elected the host city of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The team that accompanied French President Jacques Chirac and the Mayor of Paris and Paris 2012 President Bertrand Delano� included members of various political and business leaders as well as prominent members of the French sporting community. All were passionately backing the Paris Bid. They arrived in Singapore between 2 and 5 July to share with the Olympic Family their "Love of the Games" and their vision for the Paris 2012 Olympics. Many of the supporters have been deeply involved in the Paris 2012 project since its inception and demonstrated their commitment to the Paris Bid during the final days in Singapore. New York: Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York 2012 team announced that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed to travel to Singapore to head the city's bid for the International Olympic Committees (IOC) 2012 Host City election of 6 July. Clinton joins over 40 tremendous Olympians and Paralympians from 13 different nations including Gold medalist and boxing legend Muhammad Ali. "I am honored that Senator Clinton will be joining us in Singapore to advocate for New York City's bid to host the 2012 Olympics," said Bloomberg. "The Olympic Games are the greatest global celebration of humanity, competition and friendship. As a well-known and respected figure around the world, Senator Clinton will help deliver our message that New York can bring the world together in unique ways for the Games. She will bring tremendous strength to our bid, and help lead our terrific delegation. I look forward to working with her in Singapore to bring the Games of 2012 to our city." "It is an honor to accept Mayor Bloomberg's invitation to join this extraordinary delegation of New Yorkers and Americans, and to help present to the IOC the city's magnificent plan to host the 2012 Olympic Games," said Senator Clinton. "The Olympics have long held a special place in my heart, and I have seen the power of the Games first-hand. The spirit of international camaraderie and partnership exemplified by the Olympics thrives every day in New York city, and I am proud to do all I can to help bring the 2012 Games to the greatest city in the world." Moscow: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov joined the Moscow 2012 delegation in Singapore. But it was Moscow's Mayor Yuri Luzhkov who announced the Moscow 2012 delegation to Singapore for the election of the Host City for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the 117th IOC session. Luzhkov, who arrived in Singapore on 4 July, said: "We have a winning team flying to Singapore. We are honoured that our prime minister is joining us and demonstrating that the Federal and Moscow Governments are 100 percent united in our commitment to bring the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Moscow. I am also delighted that our IOC members will be playing an active role in our team and that so many Olympic champions will be in Singapore to describe our unique Olympic River plan that is so convenient for athletes and spectators alike. This is going to be a very exciting week and I am confident that the IOC will recognise that this is a time for a historic choice." London: Queen Elizabeth II has sent a good luck message to London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe and the bid team. Buckingham Palace released the queen's statement just five days before the crucial vote to select the winner of the race to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The message from the queen, who will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, said: "I have been impressed to see how people have united behind the bid to bring the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to the United Kingdom in 2012." "As a nation we share a great passion for sport and a desire to see a greater participation in sport, especially amongst younger people. The Olympic Movement has done much to promote the values of sport and to show how these values can inspire us all," she added. "I wish Lord Coe and his team the very best of luck at the IOC meeting in Singapore." The monarch hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for members of the IOC's Evaluation Commission during their four-day inspection of London's plans.
