It was at 1:30 PM, as planned, that the IOC Executive Board’s selection was made
public. Before a riveted audience, Gisèle Davies, Director for Communications,
read out the list of the cities selected as Candidates to host the Games of the
XXX Olympiad. London (UK), Madrid (Spain), Moscou (Russia), New-York (United States) et Paris
are still in the race. Istanbul (Turkey), La Havane (Cuba), Leipzig (Germany) et Rio de Janeiro (Brasil),
in contrast, were edged out.
In total, nine cities had put forth a bid. They had all submitted their responses,
last 15 January, to an initial questionnaire sent out by the IOC. It is primarily
on the basis of that document that the decision on 18th May 2004 was made.
The Candidate Cities are now going to have to set to work on their final bid
book, to be handed in by 15th November. This will later be followed by an on-site
visit by the Evaluation Commission, next year.
Finally, on 6 July 2005, in Singapore, the IOC members will elect the Host City for the Games of the
XXX Olympiad.
This 18th May is a new milestone in Paris’ bid. Paris 2012 will now be able to
announce its communications campaign, display its logo and baseline “L’Amour des
Jeux”, and rally all of France around its aspiration: to offer the world an outstanding
sporting event, in the Summer of 2012, by providing the athletes with the best
accommodation and competition conditions, along with a festive and warm popular
celebration of the Olympic values.