Moscow Optimistic About Chances To Host 2012 Games
Moscow: Following the IOC Evaluation Commission’s press conference reviewing their four-day study of Moscow’s bid, the
city’s Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said: “We have all very much enjoyed demonstrating our credentials and enthusiasm for hosting
the Games during the course of this week. There is no question that Moscow would host historic, spectacular Games in
2012. We had an excellent dialogue with the Evaluation Commission and we are optimistic about our chances; their
friendship and guidance during this week made a lasting impression on us all. We look forward to surprising a lot of
people by being selected as the Host City in July.”
Olympic Champion and IOC member Alexander Popov took up the Mayor’s theme. “This has been a very good week,” he said.
“I’m sure that my colleagues in the IOC will be impressed with Moscow’s Games plan. There is much speculation around the
world about which Candidate City has the best odds to win. The reality is that no-one has any idea how my colleagues
will vote. I believe that the Evaluation Commission’s experience here and their objective analysis, will really help my
colleagues to make a good choice.”
Moscow’s bid to persuade the International Olympic Committee’s Evaluation Committee of its ability to host the 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games drew to a close with visits to the Olympisky Sports Complex and Locomotive football
stadium. Moscow’s Bid Committee also gave presentations on media operations and Olympism and culture before the four-day
visit wound up with press conferences by the Evaluation Commission and the Moscow 2012 Bid Committee.
Moscow’s final presentations recalled that one of the IOC’s most important criteria is ‘technical excellence’ and
outlined the reasons for the Bid Committee’s confidence that the city meets this demand:
- Moscow’s long and successful history in hosting and organising international competitions
- Some 65% of proposed Olympic facilities are already on the ground
- The uniquely compact Games plan – the Olympic River concept – is designed to benefit athletes, the Olympic Family, the
media and spectators.
The Bid Committee sought to leave the Evaluation Commission with the message that Moscow would be an historic choice and
that hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 would transform Moscow and Russia’s economic and cultural fabric.