TV debate planned for 2012 Olympic bidders

Subject: Just when the Olympic circus was getting tiring
Date: 31-Dec-04 13:58:26 Eastern Standard Time
From: kitchen@hellskitchen.net
Sent from the Internet (Details)


TV debate planned for 2012 Olympic bidders
KRYSTYNA RUDZKI, AP Sports Writer
Friday, December 31, 2004

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/31/sports1301EST0338.DTL

(12-31) 10:01 PST LONDON (AP) --

A televised debate is planned featuring bid leaders from the five cities
vying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

In what would be the first debate in Olympic bid history, the broadcast by
BBC World would include senior figures from the London, Paris, Madrid,
Moscow and New York committees.

The date, site and guests for the proposed debate have not yet been
decided, BBC World spokesman Kevin Young said Friday. The format most
likely would involve each bid leader presenting his case, with a panel
later asking questions.

"It's good to have an open and friendly airing of this important debate,"
London 2012 spokesman Mike Lee said.

The BBC World channel is shown in more than 200 countries.

"It's a fair opportunity for everyone to state their arguments," Paris 2012
spokesman Jerome Lenfant said.

Lenfant said all five cities have agreed to the program. Phone calls to the
other bid cities were not immediately returned.

The 2012 host will be selected by the International Olympic Committee on
July 6 in Singapore. The IOC said it would have no problem with the debate
provided the bidding rules apply. Under the regulations, the cities are
forbidden from attacking each other, and IOC president Jacques Rogge
recently told the candidates to stop sniping at each other.

"The focus will be on each city's own proposals," Lee said.

The IOC's 11-member evaluation commission will visit Madrid on Feb. 3-6,
London on Feb. 16-19, New York on Feb. 21-24, Paris on March 9-12 and
Moscow on March 14-17.

The panel will give its recommendations to the 100-plus IOC members a month
before they vote.