Nine NOCs/Cities Express Interest in Hosting the 2012 Olympic Games

Official IOC Press Release
www.olympic.org
16 July 2003

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that nine National Olympic Committees (NOCs)/cities have submitted their application to host the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012. The cities, in alphabetical order, are: Havana (CUB), Istanbul (TUR), Leipzig (GER), London (GBR), Madrid (ESP), Moscow (RUS), New York (USA), Paris (FRA), and Rio de Janeiro (BRA).

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) had until 15 July 2003, to notify the IOC that a city within their jurisdiction was interested to apply.

Interested cities will have to go through a candidature acceptance procedure whereby the IOC will review their potential to organise the 2012 Olympic Games. No city will become a candidate until it is selected as such by the IOC Executive Board in May 2004. The key dates of the procedure are as follows:

  • 15 January 2004: Applicant Cities to submit reply to IOC questionnaire
  • Mid-May 2004: Executive Board acceptance of Candidate Cities
  • August 2004: Candidate City Observer Programme at the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens
  • 15 November 2004: Return of Candidature Files
  • February-March 2005: Visits by the Evaluation Commission
  • May 2005: Report by the Evaluation Commission published and given to the IOC members
  • 6 July 2005: Election of the Host City during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore

An Applicant City Seminar to be organised by the IOC in October 2003 in Lausanne will give all nine Applicant Cities the opportunity to meet with the IOC administration and receive background information on the Olympic Movement and the organisation of the Olympic Games.

"We are delighted to announce such a long list of prestigious cities", said the IOC President Jacques Rogge today in Lausanne. "I believe this reflects the strong image of the Olympic Games and the IOC's policy of reinvesting revenues in the staging of the Games and the care for a strong urban legacy. We look forward to an exciting competition".

Information on the Candidature Acceptance Procedure, including the questionnaire to which Applicant Cities will have to respond by 15 January 2004 and the rules applicable to this process, can be found at www.olympic.org.