Paris Favored as 2012 Olympic Host, Survey Shows (Update1)

Subject: Poll: Most Americans don't favor NYC Bid
Date: 6/1/2005 2:26:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: tenant@tenant.net
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Paris Favored as 2012 Olympic Host, Survey Shows (Update1)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=aDtsrU42UNAQ&refer=uk


June 1 (Bloomberg) -- Paris would be the most popular host city for the
2012 Olympics, while most Americans don't want New York to get the games,
according to an international survey by ACNielsen Corp.

The French capital was preferred by a majority of people in 27 of the 38
nations surveyed, with Madrid and London tied as the second choice ahead of
Moscow and New York.

The level of home support may influence International Olympic Committee
members who vote July 6 in Singapore, analysts say. While 81 percent of
French favor Paris, 44 percent of Americans back New York, according to the
survey.

``The least keen to see the games on their own turf were the Americans,''
said Alistair Watts, managing director of ACNielsen Pacific, in a faxed
statement.

Half the Turkish respondents and one quarter of Swedes think none of the
cities should host the 2012 games, the survey showed. Paris is rated by
bookmakers as most likely to win the vote, with London the second favorite.

ACNielsen is a unit of VNU, the world's largest market- research company.
The survey was conducted in May among more than 21,261 Internet users, the
company said in the statement.

Level of Support for 2012 Bid in Home Country

Moscow 85 percent
Paris 81 percent
London 68 percent
Spain 57 percent
New York 44 percent

To contact the reporter on this story:
Grant Clark in Beijing at gclark@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 1, 2005 01:03 EDT