AND
THE 2012
OLYMPIAD
HOST
CITY
IS …….
Microphones
from all over the world including that of African
radio stations, digital and video cameras of all sizes
and shapes, journalists from all over the globe will
be jostling for positions in Singapore on July 6,
2005, all with one coming purpose. To hear the
decision of the International Olympic Committee as to
which city has been awarded the hosting of the 2012
Olympic Games. The announcement of the winning city is
expected to be made at
7.30 p.m.
(GMT+8)
The
Voting procedure:
Voting
will take place in successive rounds until one
candidate receives a majority of those voting. The
ballot continues until one candidate gets an absolute
majority of the votes cast. IOC members coming from a
country whose city is a candidate in the election must
abstain from taking part in the vote.
Non-votes,
spoiled votes, and abstentions do not count toward the
calculation of the majority. For example, if 100
members are present, but four (4) abstain, the number
of votes needed to win is 49. If no candidate city
achieves a majority in the first round, the candidate
with the fewest votes drops out of the running, and
the members vote again on the remaining candidates. If
two or more cities are tied for the lowest number of
votes, a runoff election will be held between them,
with the winner going on to the next round.
Electronic
Vote. The members will vote by electronic device,
which immediately and securely tallies the votes. The
electronic voting devices were first introduced during
the 111th Session in
Sydney
in 2000 as part of the organisation's drive to update
its policies and procedures. How each member votes is
not recorded to shield the member from external
pressures to vote in a certain way. If multiple rounds
are needed, the IOC will immediately announce which
cities will go on to the next round. The tally of
votes per round will be reported after the conclusion
of the election.
What
London
and the entire nation will be waiting to hear after
the voting will be the words: And the city to host the
2012 Olympiad is
LONDON
"
London
's Olympic bid was
given a boost when
a technical report indicated that it was closing on
the favourite,
Paris
, to stage the 2012 Games.
Paris
, the French capital has always been the favourite
host city
The
London
host city Bid committee led by Lord Coe was glad to
hear that
London
had improved on the bid's standing a year ago while
those of
New York
and
Moscow
hang by a thread.
On
public transport, the IOC, which previously described
London
's rail network as "often obsolete" said
that the capital had a "comprehensive" road
and rail system that would be upgraded with an
investment of about £20bn by 2012.
The
report said: "Provided this proposed programme of
improvements is fully delivered on schedule ...
London
would be capable of coping with Games-time
traffic." It also praised plans to situate the
Olympic park in the Lower Lea valley, near
Stratford
, which it said would deliver a "strong
legacy" for sport and the environment.
But,
in carefully chosen words that will be read by the 116
IOC voters over the coming weeks, the report struck a
note of caution for potential
London
voters. "The magnitude of the project would
require careful planning to ensure all facilities and
rehabilitation projects were completed on time."
Such
words may strike a chord with IOC members who recall
the Government's reneging on the ill-fated project to
stage the athletics world championship at Pickett's
Lock and continuing problems with the building of
Wembley Stadium.
The
report also confirmed that Londoners were more
sceptical about the Games than citizens of other bid
cities. The IOC poll, carried out in November, found
68 per cent back the bid in
London
. The figures are 59 in
New York
, 85 in
Paris
and 91 in
Madrid
.
London
, the report noted, had
staged "only" eight top-level competitions
in Olympic sports in the past decade, fewer than its
rivals. Concerns over opposition to the bid from
businesses which would dig in for compensation seem to
have been put to bed, with inspectors saying the Games
could go ahead without delay.
Inspectors
were also impressed with the decision to move venues
for shooting and equestrian closer to the East End and
praised the inclusion of existing world-class venues
at Eton- Dorney (rowing) and tennis at
Wimbledon
, saying they were a "very strong" part of
the bid.
The
technical evaluation is intended to leave no stone
unturned, and the inspectors even raised concerns
about the location in the athletes' village of the
disco. Bid officials explained while the IOC
considered this led to "somewhat crowded"
conditions, their intention was to keep the
"party animals" away from sleeping quarters.
Lord
Coe, head of
London
's bid, said: "This is the springboard for the
next 30 days. A good evaluation report is not enough
to get you across the line but we continue to enjoy
the momentum of the past year and the past six months
in particular."
He
dismissed suggestions that, behind the IOC-speak, the
report contained a message that
London
had too much to build in terms of sports venues.
"Quite rightly, the report observed this is a
large project and, quite rightly, it needs managing
properly and we will not shrink from that." Even
veteran interpreters of the IOC language were
straining to see in the report any serious concern
from a technocrat's point of view about the
Paris
blueprint, which has finessed its plans after bidding
twice in the past 15 years.
The
French capital's road and rail system was adjudged to
be "one of the world's most comprehensive"
and would benefit from a further $2.3bn (£1.5bn) so
it could "comfortably cope" with Games
traffic.
The
London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, acknowledged that
verdict reflected the French's more sustained
investment in public transport. But Mr Livingstone
promised projects in the pipeline would make
London
at least its rival by 2012.
IOC's
verdict on top contenders:
London
*
Olympic Park would deliver a "strong legacy"
in terms of sport and the environment.
*
An Olympic Games centered on the Lower Lea valley near
Stratford
would be a "catalyst for regeneration and
development". If
London
wins, building could proceed "without any undue
delay".
*
Ticket marketing and reasonable prices ensure full
stadia.
*
"Very good use" of existing venues (eg:
Wimbledon
).
*
Five-star hotel for use by IOC members to cost $290 (£150)
a night; $480 a night in
Paris
*
"Comprehensive" road and rail system.
Paris
*
Public support at 85 per cent, the highest level after
Madrid
*
Huge experience in staging international sports events
- 24 international events in Olympic sports in past
decade.
*
One of the "most comprehensive" road and
rail systems in the world.
*
"
Paris
has fully taken into account the Olympic Games Study
Commission's recommendations in its use of existing
infrastructure and the need for sustainable
development. For this reason a high number of
temporary venues (13) would be used."
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