Madrid, London, Paris, New York and Moscow are currently battling for the right to host the Olympic Games in 2012. Starting today and up until the announcement of the results on 9 July, Al-Ahram Weekly will offer periodic updates on the latest news of the five bidding cities, as provided by the candidates themselves The IOC has completed its inspection of all five cities bidding to stage the 2012 Olympics, with the final city, Moscow, bullish about their chances. The Russian capital is widely seen as an outsider in the race to stage the Games, but Moscow's Mayor Yuri Luzhkov is upbeat about his city's bid. "We had an excellent dialogue with the evaluation commission," he said. "We look forward to surprising a lot of people by being selected as the host city in July." IOC commission chairwoman Nawal Al-Moutawakel said: "Moscow has a very serious bid, a very good bid. They have successfully answered all our questions. They don't have to be an outsider. We don't have to believe it." However, security was highlighted as a major issue on a day when the head of Russia's state-controlled electricity monopoly, Anatoly Chubais, survived an assassination attempt. "Security is an important issue," said Gilbert Felli, vice chairman of the IOC panel. "We will discuss this among us. "We have received a very detailed description by law enforcement security on what will be put in place for the Games." Earlier, the inspectors visited Moscow's Olympisky swimming pavilion and Lokomotiv stadium complex, home to one of Moscow's six soccer teams. "We were impressed by the high quality infrastructure that has existed for the past 20 years," said Al-Moutawakel. "This is something that we were pleased to see." Luzhkov has pronounced himself delighted with the IOC evaluation committee's four-day visit to Moscow. "We have all very much enjoyed demonstrating our credentials and enthusiasm for hosting the Games during the course of this week," said Luzhkov. "There is no question that Moscow would host historic, spectacular games in 2012." Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country's people would benefit if Moscow hosted the 2012 Olympics. "It's important to note that Russia fully subscribes to the humanistic appeal of the Olympics," he told the visiting 13-member Olympic panel. "If the Olympics were to be held in Moscow, this would be conducive to developing and enhancing these beliefs in Russian society. And our country is one of the greatest athletic powers in the world." Moscow last staged the Games in 1980 when the US boycotted the event because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. "The world has changed, Russia itself has changed but one thing has not changed and that is the interest of the Russian people and their love of sports," Putin added in his speech which was made during a reception at the Kremlin. Luzhkov and former President Boris Yeltsin also made speeches during the evening. Earlier in the day the IOC panel had held behind closed doors meetings with Moscow officials to discuss the country's political and economic climate and the security situation in the capital. A leading federal law enforcement minister said the fact that so many sporting venues were located in a relatively small area would make it easier to look after security. The city would stage all events within 16 miles of the city centre with many proposed Games venues and the Olympic village close to Moscow River. Egypt important Deputy CEO of the Paris bid, Essar Gabriel, held a press conference in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the latest development following the IOC commission's visit to Paris earlier this month. "Egypt is one of the most important countries to France, not only for its inspirational role on the athletic level, but for its significant role on all different levels," Gabriel, who is chief operating officer, said. He added that French and Egyptian citizens have demonstrated an overwhelming passion for sport, sporting events, and particularly for the Olympic Games. "The global event symbolises the values we consider essential: fraternity, tolerance, competition in the spirit of mutual respect, and a resolve to push oneself to the limit," Gabriel said, adding that both countries enjoy a renowned athletic history. "The IOC visit had a positive impact on the French people as they found it an opportunity to express their passion for sports and hope to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games," Gabriel said. He added that the Paris 2012 bid committee answered all the IOC's more than 2,000 inquiries. They also discussed over 17 topics regarding the importance of Pairs hosting the Games as well as the preparations being made to ensure a successful hosting of such a major event. "The Paris bid enjoys strong political and mass support, as President Jacques Chirac welcomed the IOC members," added Gabriel. Freeman for London Australia's Olympic heroine Cathy Freeman has given her support to London's bid to host the 2012 Games. Freeman, who won gold in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics, was in London for the start of The Queen's Baton tour for next year's Commonwealth Games. And Freeman expressed her views to London bid leader Lord Sebastian Coe when they met at Buckingham Palace. "I want London to win the 2012 Olympics. I've already voiced my support to Lord Seb Coe," she said. London is up against Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow for the right to host the Olympics. And Freeman believes London can learn from the Sydney Olympics and from Melbourne's preparations for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. "From behind the scenes, being retired as I am, teamwork is really important," she added.
