The IOC's Evaluation Commission for 2012 Olympics is now in Lausanne, for a four day stop over, having finished their five city evaluation tour.
During the stop over they will draft their final report about their visits.
As with all reports produced by bureaucracies, this will take weeks of gestation before it is finalised.
It will then need to be translated, printed and uploaded onto the IOC web site on June 6.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Moscow's Big Push
Moscow reportedly made a big push on Wednesday, in their bid to host the 2012 Olympics; there was even a sales pitch from President Vladimir Putin, and a caviar and vodka reception for IOC commission at the Kremlin.
Putin said to the delegates:
"I'm sure you will agree with me that our country is one of the greatest athletic powers in the world,".
He spoke about the boycott in 1980, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan:
"Thank God that time has passed...The world has changed. Russia itself has changed, but one thing has not changed, and that is the interest of the Russian people and their love of sports."
Moscow is the last leg of the journey for the evaluators. The full International Olympic Committee will select the host city on July 6 in Singapore.
During the reception in the Kremlin palace chamber, the inspectors were treated to; caviar, sturgeon, quail breasts and crab cakes.
Moscow proposes holding all events within 16 miles of the city centre, under a bid plan focusing on the "Olympic River" concept. Many venues and the Olympic village will be located alongside or near the Moscow River, with boats providing transportation.
The cost is estimated to be around $10BN, most of which would come from private sources.
Putin said to the delegates:
"I'm sure you will agree with me that our country is one of the greatest athletic powers in the world,".
He spoke about the boycott in 1980, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan:
"Thank God that time has passed...The world has changed. Russia itself has changed, but one thing has not changed, and that is the interest of the Russian people and their love of sports."
Moscow is the last leg of the journey for the evaluators. The full International Olympic Committee will select the host city on July 6 in Singapore.
During the reception in the Kremlin palace chamber, the inspectors were treated to; caviar, sturgeon, quail breasts and crab cakes.
Moscow proposes holding all events within 16 miles of the city centre, under a bid plan focusing on the "Olympic River" concept. Many venues and the Olympic village will be located alongside or near the Moscow River, with boats providing transportation.
The cost is estimated to be around $10BN, most of which would come from private sources.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
The Cheese Olympics
Every two years, hundreds of cheeses are sent in from across the USA to Milwaukee for the Championship Cheese Contest.
Fourteen judges will sniff, taste and poke the cheeses to determine the winner of the title U.S. champion of cheese today.
John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, says:
"It's kind of like the Olympics where you start out with a 10 and your flaws are downgraded,".
There are 50 criteria on which the cheeses are judged including; too fruity, too flat, too curdy, too gassy, colour, rind, dents, texture and body.
The judges chew the cheese, allow it to cover their tongue for a few seconds, spit it out and then smell the aroma.
Seven new classes of cheese have been added including; Havarti, Quesos Frescos and Pepper Flavored Cheese.
However, cheese making is a random biological process and the cheese makers are not allowed to cut or taste the cheese they send to the contest. Therefore all bets are still open as to who will win this year.
Fourteen judges will sniff, taste and poke the cheeses to determine the winner of the title U.S. champion of cheese today.
John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, says:
"It's kind of like the Olympics where you start out with a 10 and your flaws are downgraded,".
There are 50 criteria on which the cheeses are judged including; too fruity, too flat, too curdy, too gassy, colour, rind, dents, texture and body.
The judges chew the cheese, allow it to cover their tongue for a few seconds, spit it out and then smell the aroma.
Seven new classes of cheese have been added including; Havarti, Quesos Frescos and Pepper Flavored Cheese.
However, cheese making is a random biological process and the cheese makers are not allowed to cut or taste the cheese they send to the contest. Therefore all bets are still open as to who will win this year.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Moscow Optimistic
It is reported that the Moscow Olympics bid committee are optimistic that they will get to host the 2012 Games, following a presentation to the International Olympic Committee evaluation commission.
So far, every city that has hosted the commission has expressed optimism that they would win.
Valery Shantsev, a deputy Moscow mayor and the head of the city's Olympic bid committee, told reporters:
"I believe Moscow has the best chances among all...We had a positive dialogue in the morning. The IOC panel members expressed lively interest in our presentations..".
He added:
"If we start a battle, we always do everything to clinch the win. That's the Russian people's national feature..We have successfully hosted more than 100 world and European championships and the World Cup events here since 1980. Nobody in the world has similar experience."
The IOC panel, is scheduled for a press conference Thursday, on Monday viewed Moscow's presentations and also studied the transportation and environmental aspects of the Moscow bid.
Moscow Games would use the city's Moskva river as a multifunctional centerpiece, serving both as a visual backdrop for international television as well as the transportation artery for athletes, tourists and Olympic Games staff to avoid traffic jams.
It seems that more than 210 new hotels will be opened in Moscow by 2012, these will add 100000 extra rooms.
The Games have got the full backing from the entire country's political spectrum, a rare feat!
The decision on the host city of 2012 Olympics will be taken after the final vote on July 6 in Singapore.
So far, every city that has hosted the commission has expressed optimism that they would win.
Valery Shantsev, a deputy Moscow mayor and the head of the city's Olympic bid committee, told reporters:
"I believe Moscow has the best chances among all...We had a positive dialogue in the morning. The IOC panel members expressed lively interest in our presentations..".
He added:
"If we start a battle, we always do everything to clinch the win. That's the Russian people's national feature..We have successfully hosted more than 100 world and European championships and the World Cup events here since 1980. Nobody in the world has similar experience."
The IOC panel, is scheduled for a press conference Thursday, on Monday viewed Moscow's presentations and also studied the transportation and environmental aspects of the Moscow bid.
Moscow Games would use the city's Moskva river as a multifunctional centerpiece, serving both as a visual backdrop for international television as well as the transportation artery for athletes, tourists and Olympic Games staff to avoid traffic jams.
It seems that more than 210 new hotels will be opened in Moscow by 2012, these will add 100000 extra rooms.
The Games have got the full backing from the entire country's political spectrum, a rare feat!
The decision on the host city of 2012 Olympics will be taken after the final vote on July 6 in Singapore.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Moscow Inspection Underway
The IOC inspection commission for the 2012 Olympics has begun its inspection tour of Moscow.
It is reported that Moscow is feeling very confident about its chances of hosting the 2012 Games. Viacheslav Fetisov, Russia's sports minister, is quoted as saying:
"We have great, great facilities. We have hosted more than 150 world championships in 15 years...The attitude of the Moscovites towards the Olympic Games and other sporting events is high. We have 500 Olympic champions living here..I don’t know why we are the underdog from the beginning.".
The commission will be briefed by Moscow on seven of the 17 bid book topics, today, with Tuesday designated for venue visits.
The commission leaves Moscow in Thursday.
It is reported that Moscow is feeling very confident about its chances of hosting the 2012 Games. Viacheslav Fetisov, Russia's sports minister, is quoted as saying:
"We have great, great facilities. We have hosted more than 150 world championships in 15 years...The attitude of the Moscovites towards the Olympic Games and other sporting events is high. We have 500 Olympic champions living here..I don’t know why we are the underdog from the beginning.".
The commission will be briefed by Moscow on seven of the 17 bid book topics, today, with Tuesday designated for venue visits.
The commission leaves Moscow in Thursday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)