The 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London, the International Olympic Committee has announced. London won a two-way fight with Paris by 54 votes to 50 at the IOC meeting in Singapore, after bids from Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated. Prime Minister Tony Blair called the win “a momentous day” for Britain.
Paris had been favorites throughout the campaign but London’s hopes were raised after an impressive presentation by Lord Coe, the bid chairman. IOC president Jacques Rogge made the dramatic announcement at 1249 BST. It will be the first time the Olympics has been held in Britain since 1948.
Coe said: “This is just the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we ever dreamed of in British sport.” The Queen, in a message to Coe, said: “I send my warmest congratulations to you and every member of the London 2012 team for winning the bid for the UK. “It’s a really outstanding achievement to beat such a highly competitive field.”
News of London’s victory delighted flag-waving supporters who had gathered in Trafalgar Square and Stratford in the East End of London, where the new Olympic park will be built.
Shares of British construction companies soared, while mortgage lenders predicted house prices in the capital would rocket. But raindrops began falling on disappointed Parisians outside the Hotel de Ville in the French capital shortly after the result. Mr Blair had helped London’s late momentum with a whistlestop 48-hour visit to Singapore, before flying back for the G8 summit in Scotland.
Breaking off from the meeting of world leaders, he said of London: “Many reckon it is the greatest capital city in the world and the Olympics will help keep it that way.”
Rogge had correctly forecast a cliffhanger vote, and offered his congratulations to the winners. “We knew the two bids were very, very close. Well done, London. It will be a superb Games and will strengthen the Olympics,” he said.
An hour after the decision, London’s bid leaders were greeted by warm applause as they signed the official contract to stage the Games. All five bidding cities gave final 45-minute presentations to the IOC members before the vote began.
The electronic ballot started at 1126 BST. Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated from the race in the first, second and third rounds of voting. The final round of voting finished at about 1145 BST, with the committee reconvening at 1230 BST for the official announcement.
Rogge revealed the winner, after a nerve-wracking wait, at 1249 BST. Wednesday’s decision brings to an end the 18-month race to win the host contract for the 2012 Games. And it was the most keenly-fought bidding contest in recent years.
Paris was considered the front-runner for much of the campaign, and was highly rated in the initial evaluation and also by the inspectors after their visits earlier in the year. But it was widely recognized that bid leader Lord Coe, a high-profile personality within the IOC and other governing bodies, hauled London closer to the French capital as the vote approached.
Madrid was seen as a consistent but not outstanding candidate, while New York’s bid was dogged by problems over their proposed stadium, and Moscow was always seen as the rank outsider.
Once attention moved to Singapore, the bidding cities called on political and sporting heavyweights to champion their causes. And the spotlight inevitably focused on Paris and London in the days leading up to the vote. The two cities had President Chirac and Prime Minister Blair respectively in their corners.
Mr Chirac actually took part in the French capital’s final presentation on Wednesday, while Mr Blair opted to lobby alongside the London bid team in Singapore before flying back to Britain to host the G8 summit.
London also called on England captain David Beckham and a galaxy of Olympic and Paralympic medalists as ambassadors, while footballers Laurent Blanc and Zinedine Zidane were among those backing the Paris bid.
Courtesy BBC News
In context
The Olympics took place in London, United Kingdom and to a lesser extent across the country from 25 July to 12 August 2012. The first event, the group stage in women’s football began on 25 July at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, followed by the opening ceremonies on 27 July. More than 10,000 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated.
The Games received widespread acclaim for their organization, with the volunteers, the British military and public enthusiasm praised particularly highly. The opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, received widespread acclaim throughout the world, particular praise from the British public and a minority of widely ranging criticisms from some social media sites. During the Games, Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, winning his 22nd medal. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei entered female athletes for the first time, so that every currently eligible country has sent a female competitor to at least one Olympic Games. Women’s boxing was included for the first time, thus the Games became the first at which every sport had female competitors.
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