The Evaluation Commission of the International Olympic Committee has praised the “high calibre” of the Paris bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Speaking at the press conference which concluded their four-day inspection, Ms Nawal El Moutawakel, the Chairwoman of the Evaluation Commission, said: “Our visit was highly productive and we must congratulate the bid committee for their excellent preparation. The values of Olympism came through very clearly in the different themes we addressed.”

“We had some very thorough discussions on the 17 key themes. We asked more than 200 questions and got all the answers for our report. All the documents we received were of a high quality. The Paris bid is of a high calibre.”

Ms El Moutawakel, who won Olympic gold at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, said the Commission had understood the passion France has for the Games.

"We felt that the French breathe the love of the Games,” Ms El Moutawakel added. “We felt it in the metro, we felt it in the stadium and among the bid committee."

"The whole French team showed passion right up to the President. We met a man who is a keen sportsman and right behind the bid. I will leave with fantastic memories."

During a visit which ran precisely to schedule, the 13 members of the IOC Evaluation Commission saw all the Paris-based existing sites and the newly proposed venues featured in the candidature file.

The Commission also received 17 presentations detailing how Paris would stage a successful and spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 if it wins the IOC vote in Singapore on July 6,2005. The Commission’s visit provided a perfect opportunity for its members to see at first hand what enormous public support the bid enjoys and how a sustainable legacy would be secured for the Games.

Bertrand Delanoë, the Mayor of Paris and President of Paris 2012, said: "The last four days have been a thrilling four days. They have been hard work but they have been four happy days even if things remain uncertain until the vote is taken on July 6. "

"We are grateful to the Evaluation Commission for their professionalism, rigour and friendliness."

"We expressed our love of the Games and our thanks go to the men and women who live in France, whether they are French or not, who have expressed their love of the Games and their dream of hosting the Games here in 2012."

The four-day inspection attracted more than 200 international media from a total of over 500 accredited journalists.