With a month to go, Paris remains the city to beat in the race for the 2012 Olympics.
The French capital solidified its front-runner status on Monday, receiving a glowing review in an IOC report evaluating the five cities in the most competitive and glamorous field in Olympic bid history.
London and Madrid also earned high praise in the 123-page report of the International Olympic’s evaluation commission.
New York received a mixed assessment as the IOC cited a number of concerns, including uncertainty over its proposed Olympic stadium. New York suffered another hit on Monday when a powerful state political leader rejected a funding proposal for the stadium.
Long-shot Moscow took criticism for its lack of detailed plans.
The report didn’t rank the five cities, but will serve as a guide for the 117 eligible voting IOC members when they cast secret ballots in Singapore on July 6.
Paris has been considered the favourite since the start of the campaign nearly two years ago, and Monday’s report only reinforced that status.
The report’s summary praised the ”very high quality” of the Paris and London bid files. Madrid and New York were cited for ”high quality” presentations.
The report was based on visits to the five cities by the IOC evaluation commission.
The document focuses on technical issues such as venue construction, transportation, hotel accommodations, financing and security. The vote in Singapore, however, will also hinge on geopolitical issues and other factors.
”You do not dismiss any city on the basis of this report,” London bid chairperson Sebastian Coe said.
British bookmakers reacted to the report by keeping Paris as the odds-on favourite, with Ladbrokes listing the French city at 1-6 and William Hill at 1-4. London was second at 7-2 and 11-4.
The IOC report praised Paris, among other things, for its sports concept, ”excellent accommodation,” and ”high capacity and quality” transportation.
The report also noted that Paris had ”fully taken into account” the IOC’s framework for controlling the cost and size of the Olympics — a major point in IOC president Jacques Rogge’s blueprint for future games.
”We are really delighted because our concept seems to be welcomed in the best way,” Paris bid leader Philippe Baudillon said.
Paris, which last hosted the Olympics in 1924, is bidding for the third time after defeats for the 1992 and 2008 games.
”Don’t expect us to be self-satisfied,” Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said. ”Our team is more united, more determined [and] more combative than ever.”
London, which has gained ground in recent months, was praised for the ”significant sports and environmental legacies” involved in its plans for regenerating the city’s rundown East Side.
However, the IOC noted that ”careful planning would be required to ensure that all facilities are completed on time.” The IOC also praised London’s improved transport plans.
”This is a springboard for the next 30 days,” Coe said.
”A good evaluation report on its own is not enough to get you over the line, but we’re confident we can build on the momentum.”
Madrid, which has been overlooked by many, scored highly in many facets and was lauded for planning ”humanist, sustainable and environmentally friendly games”.
The report said 24 of 35 competition venues already exist.
On the down side, the report said Madrid may need to use hotels an hour away by train. It also cited a lack of guaranteed accommodation for sailing events on the island of Mallorca and said the design and layout of the Olympic village requires ”some revision”.
”Today we are even more convinced of our chances,” Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said. ”I don’t think we’re just nearer but that we’re actually in the lead in certain aspects.”
New York won positive words for its legacy plans, promotion of Olympic sports in America and strong potential for local sponsorship and licensing revenues. But the IOC noted that ”no guarantees were provided” for the planned $2-billion West Side
stadium, as well as an international broadcasting centre.
The stadium, which is crucial to the bid’s success, was put into further doubt on Monday when New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he wouldn’t support it.
”This plan is at best, premature,” Silver said, adding he was willing to continue talking about the issue.
”The IOC report has made crystal clear that we’re in a great position to win … so long as the stadium is approved,” New York bid leader Dan Doctoroff said.
However, the report also cited other issues for New York, noting that lack of dedicated Olympic lanes to some venues ”may make it difficult to achieve the stated travel times”.
The report also noted high levels of ozone pollution in New York and London.
Moscow received the most stinging comments.
”A lack of detailed planning in the candidature file and background information made it difficult for the commission to evaluate the project,” the IOC said.
Moscow bid chairperson Valery Shantsev played down the criticism.
”We are satisfied with the report,” he said. ”In our opinion the commission [believes] … that there are five strong bidding cities.” – Sapa-AP