London to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Serena

Administrator
I understand the reasons why they have to select so far in advance, but 2012 seems soooo far away, doesn't it? :D

Joy in London, gloom for losers
Wednesday, July 6, 2005

LONDON, England -- Thousands celebrated on the streets of London after International Olympic Committee members announced the British capital would host the 2012 Olympics, beating Moscow, New York, Madrid, and finally Paris.

Crowds in central London cheered loudly and waved flags as they heard Wednesday that their city had overtaken Paris to win the games. Champagne was sprayed around Nelson's Column and thousands danced in the streets.

The announcement from Singapore was shown on giant TV screens in Trafalgar Square in central London, and in the east London area where the Olympic village will be built.

Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed London's victory, saying the city would stage a "fantastic" games.

He said the effort by the bid team led by former Olympic gold medallist Lord Coe had been "just awesome."

"We have got a great chance now to develop sport in our country and to have a fantastic Olympic Games and then to leave a legacy for the future," he told reporters in Gleneagles, where he is hosting the G8 summit.

Prince William, who is in New Zealand, joined the celebration.

"I'm looking forward to what I'm sure will be a fantastic Olympic Games," said the second-in-line to the throne, according to The Associated Press.

There was a very different atmosphere in the French capital Paris where a crowd of thousands fell silent outside City Hall after the decision was announced.

It started to rain shortly after the news was announced, and disappointed spectators left the square after the third unsuccessful attempt by Paris since 1992 to bring the games back to the city, which hosted the Olympics in 1908 and 1924.

Paris was initially the frontrunner against the other four finalist cities.

After the decision was announced, a band struck up the theme tune of the James Bond movies about the fictional British spy.

French TV presenters fell silent for a moment. One, on the news network LCI, said a quiet "Oh la-la" of disbelief, AFP said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the three other finalists vying to host the games were voted out.

In Moscow -- the first city to hear the bad news -- CNN Correspondent Ryan Chilcote reported that a huge crowd gathered in Red Square seemed initially unaware their bid had failed.

The ceremony to name the Olympic host city, taking place in Singapore, was relayed on large TV screens, but without sound, according to AFP.

Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, who headed Moscow's unsuccessful campaign, later paid tribute to London's bid.

"We want to offer our warm and sincere congratulations to London and we are confident that they will stage memorable Games of the 30th Olympiad," the Press Association reported.

In Rockefeller Center in New York, a planned victory celebration was muted after thr announcement. "Everybody seems disappointed," Nick Patrickas, a painter from Huntington, on Long Island, told AP.

"Economically, we'd have a brand new stadium and a lot of people will come to visit."

Patrick Keane, 57, of Queens, said the city had attractions had things its competitors did not.

"It's a very international city, so every country could feel welcome and supported," he said.

"It could have been a focus for development of certain parts of the city ... and there's just the whole ripple effect of having the Olympics."

In Singapore, top New York delegates -- including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and U.S. Olympic Committee president Peter Ueberroth -- sadly embraced each other outside their hotel but declined to comment to reporters.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg managed a weak smile, adding: "It's a lovely evening, isn't it?"

In Spain's capital the party mood evaporated in the heat after IOC members eliminated Madrid.

A collective silence, followed by boos, whistles and insults, spread across the city's central square that had been decked out with flags amid expectation that the only major European capital yet to stage the Olympics would finally win, according to The Associated Press.

One young girl in a red t-shirt with the Spanish bull emblem fell to her knees and wept.

"I am very disappointed," student Pablo told Agence France Presse news agency. Madrid last tried to bid for the games in 1972, when Munich won.



Crowds in London's Trafalgar Square react to the announcement that London will host the 2012 Olympics, July 6, 2005. The London team overhauled long-time favorites Paris on Wednesday as well as Madrid, Moscow and New York to win the race to stage the lucrative sports extravaganza.
 

Serena

Administrator
1) Wembley Stadium's 133-metre arch is lit up from sunset until 10.30pm in London, Wednesday July 6, 2005 in celebration of London being awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The Olympics have not been staged in Britain since 1948, and a newly rebuilt Wembley - scheduled to be completed in time for the FA Cup final in 2006 - is set to play host to the finals of the soccer tournament. The IOC evaluation commission visited the Wembley site as part of their four-day trip to London during February 2005, when the arch was lit to mark the occasion.

2) British Prime Minister Tony Blair reacts to the news that London has won the right to host the 2012 Olympics, in Gleneagles, Scotland, July 6, 2005.

3) A computer generated image made available by the London 2012 organization shows the exterior of the 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium that will be built at the heart of the new Olympic Park in east London.

4) A computer generated image made available by the London 2012 organization, shows the interior of the 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium that will be built at the heart of the new Olympic Park in east London.

5) JULY 6, 2005. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT SIN122 England's soccer captain David Beckham and Olympic gold medalist Jonathan Edwards embrace after International Olympic Committee announced London as 2012 host city, Singapore, July 6, 2005. REUTERS/Adrees Latif LON910 Britain's Kelly Holmes reacts to the announcement that London will host the 2012 Olympics, in Trafalgar Square in London, July 6, 2005. London's 2012 Olympic bid being unveiled over the city's River Thames at an event to celebrate being shortlisted to host the games taken May 18, 2004
 

yudansha

TheGreatOne
It should be a great event.

That will make it a bonus when Formula1 comes to Silverstone in a few weeks.
 

Serena

Administrator
yudansha said:
That will make it a bonus when Formula1 comes to Silverstone in a few weeks.
:D Yudansha :D Leave it to you to get in a pitch for Formula1--even with the Olympics. ;) :D
 

ORANGATUANG

Wildfire
Iam sorry New York didnt get the games for 2012..but there is always next time..Yes i think it will be an great time for one and all...I saw one of our country woman at the London bid and thats Kathy Freeman..
 

Amos Stevens

New Member
Hmm they get word they're the host of the upcoming Olympics one day & the next they're hit by terrorists :(

Thanks for posting the news Serena & I saw Lollipop did so as well :)
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
For the Games, congratulations to London (although I imagine security is going to be extra extra extra stringent due to these bombings today).

Toronto has tried a couple of times to bid for games, but we have an anti-poverty group here called Bread Not Circuses that gets a place at the bid table, and it's largely due to them that we've failed in our bids. Their contention is that the money used to prepare for the Games would be better spent on the poor. So we have no Games; but we have no money, either (that would largely come from corporate sponsors, and corporate sponsors are not interested in keeping those on social assistance in the style to which they have become accustomed), so the cycle continues.

Bread Not Circuses airily waves away the notion that the poor should take advantage of the jobs that would be created and work to sustain themselves. They should just get more money from social assistance, without the prospect of work. Very bizarre, to my thinking; but this group wins their case every time, and the Games go somewhere else.
 

Storm

Smile dammit!
That was great getting them! Everyone,even the bookies (who are rarely wrong) had Paris as clear favourites.It was undoubtedly loud mouth French Pm's attack on us that swung the vote back our way.

Our food worst in the world? Has he never tried fish and chips?;)
I am sure it will be a great games and bring some prestige back our way.
There is 200m£ set aside for security,but that will double after today.
 

Serena

Administrator
Storm said:
That was great getting them! Everyone,even the bookies (who are rarely wrong) had paris as clear favourites.It was undobtedly loud mouth Mitterrand's attack on us that swung the vote back our way.
Our food worst in the world? Has he never tried fish and chips?;)
I am sure it will be a great games and bring some prestige back our way.
There is 200m£ set aside for security,but that will double after today.
I read an article that gave Tony Blair most of the credit for swaying the decision towards London. They said he was charming and very persuasive! ;) Sounds like your Tony! :D I know he's lost a lot of popularity, but I admire him greatly and have the utmost respect for him. He's truly a gentleman in every sense of the word, a man of honor.

Congratulations to the UK for this honor! :) You deserve it!
Or should that be honour. ;) :D
 

Storm

Smile dammit!
It's strange how you lose the "u" in honour! I was getting fed up of Blair but since he's said he's going before next election he seems to be more relaxed and yes,he personally worked very hard to persuade the voting committee.
 

yudansha

TheGreatOne
"Leave it to you to get in a pitch for Formula1"

I'll gladly be their spokesman! I will take Bernie's job as the marketer any day! :D (just so you know, Ecclestone is one of the richest guys in Britain)
 
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