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London named as 2012 Candidate City

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Russell Langley 18 May 2004

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that London - along with Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris - has made it on to the short-list of cities bidding to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Leipzig and Havana failed to make the cut.

London now has until 15 November to submit its final bid document before the IOC’s 128 members meet in Singapore next July to choose the host city for the 2012 Games.

After the announcement at the IOC headquarters in Switzerland, London 2012 Chairman Barbara Cassani said: "We are thrilled to have made the shortlist, but our hearts go out to the losing bids. It is a very special honour to be chosen as a candidate city. We will do everything in our power to justify the IOC’s faith in London as a potential host."

After the final submission is made, each bidding city will be visited by the IOC’s evaluation commission, which consists of 10-15 IOC members.

Bid Vice Chairman, Sebastian Coe, said: "You have to remember, we are still in the foothills of the competition. The next year-and-a-quarter will be all about hard work. All the other countries left in the bid are heavyweights so we will have to focus."

Sue Campbell, Reform Chair at UK Sport, added: "UK Sport is delighted that the IOC has given London a vote of confidence by backing the bid. It is an excellent bid and fully deserves to get through this stage. Our congratulations go to everyone involved, and to the other short-listed cities.

"There is now much work to be done before the completion of the bid in November, and UK Sport looks forward to continuing to work closely with the team at London 2012."

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