NEW YORK, 22 February 2005 — New York officials yesterday began their pitch to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in a series of meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his deputy, Daniel Doctoroff, led a team of experts in the field of sports to meet with the IOC’s 13-member evaluation commission in the first round of presentation of at least 17 themes in the organization of the Olympic Games.
The evaluation commission arrived in New York City Sunday night from London to spend the next four and a half day to assess whether New York City can beat London, Paris, Moscow and Madrid in holding the 2012 Summer Games. The final selection will be made in Singapore on July 6 by the 117-member IOC.
Doctoroff, who is deputy mayor for economic and development, and his staff were to spend the day presenting a video and slide show to the IOC commission at The Plaza Hotel.
The show included plans to build an Olympic village on the Hudson River banks, accommodation for athletes, transportation and sports facilities throughout New York City and a sports complex in New Jersey. “We have final dress rehearsal going on right now,” said Amy Stanton, who heads the city’s committee for marketing and communications for the 2012 bid.
“That includes the final run-throughs of all the slides, the videos and all of the different multimedia pieces that will be showing throughout the four days.”
Bloomberg planned to meet the commission members later. City officials said social events with the commission would be restricted, but the IOC members will be treated with a jazz concert on Thursday at the Lincoln Center before it was to leave for Madrid and Moscow. The commission has already visited Paris and London.
The IOC commission will tour the city’s sports facilities today and listen to more presentations. Officials said commission members planned to seclude themselves in the Plaza Hotel in between meetings and visits.
