Beijing, Paris, Toronto ahead in 2008 race

Adrian Warner

Paris, Toronto and Beijing are equal favourites to host the 2008 Olympics but staging the Games for the first time in China would leave a unique legacy, the IOC said on Tuesday.

An evaluation report said the cities on three different continents had assembled excellent bids.

"There are three cities with only minor deficiencies which would be easy to solve for 2008 - the three cities are more or less at the same level," said Hein Verbruggen, head of the evaluation commission of the International Olympic Committee.

The commission's report expressed concern about financial aspects of the bids from Istanbul and the Japanese city of Osaka, and it steered clear of commenting directly on the controversial issue of human rights in China.

"The combination of a good sports concept with complete government support results in a high-quality (Beijing) bid," it said.

"It is the commission's belief that a Beijing Games would leave a unique legacy to China and to sport and the commission is confident that Beijing could organise an excellent Games."

HUMAN RIGHTS
The commission said there were no significant security concerns anticipated if Beijing won the right to stage the Games, before alluding to the country's human rights situation.

"The commission notes the process and pace of change taking place in China and Beijing and the possible challenges caused by population and economic growth in the period leading up to 2008, but is confident these challenges can be met," the report said.

The job of the IOC Evaluation Commission is to focus on the technical aspects of a bid such as plans for sports facilities, transportation, accommodation and environmental protection. The IOC takes a final vote on the 2008 venue on July 13 in Moscow.

Tibetan exiles staged a demonstration outside IOC headquarters on Tuesday but Beijing officials warmly welcomed the commission's findings, believing the IOC report reinforced the hope that politics would not play a part in the selection.

"Today is a very good day indeed for the people of Beijing, for the people of China and for the Olympic movement," Beijing organisers said in a statement.

"There is one question on the minds of many - it concerns the role of politics in choosing the next Olympic city.

"The IOC has clearly stated that political factors will not play a part in the selection of the host city. The IOC's report today reinforces this point."

The ghosts of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre helped to derail the Chinese capital's bid for the 2000 Games which were awarded to Sydney.

Concerns over human rights have started to dog its campaign again in the last few months. China has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since 1950.

TORONTO PRAISE
The IOC report praised Toronto's impressive bid and its "compact sports concept". "The major challenge is the capacity of the combined private sector and government alliance to deliver the waterfront sports venues and village developments.

"However, the commission is confident that this could be achieved."

John Bitove, head of the Toronto bid committee, said: "It's better than I expected. It's a great boost of energy going forward to Moscow.

The commission said it was concerned about traffic congestion within Paris. Having chosen a theme of "Games within a city" (Paris) is faced with a complex urban Olympic village site," it said.

"While the commission is aware there are several elements of the village planning to be resolved, it is confident this will be achieved."

Paris bid chief Claude Bebear said the report was fair. "We are very confident that in a sprint finish we could win."

Osaka's problems centred around potential transport congestion, and concerns about the financial implications of the Games for the city and its ability to deliver on its plans.

Of Istanbul, the commission said it believed there were "uncertainties regarding the overall status and projections of Games finance. The timelines and cost for all necessary transport infrastructure could be difficult to achieve and these would be essential for the conduct of a successful Games.

"This situation is not helped by the current economic conditions," the report said.

"It's a risk analysis," bid committee vice-chairman SinanErdem said of the report. "Turkey is in an economic crisis and implementing these projects is a risk.

The Tibetan demonstrators attached banners to trees in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) building on the banks of Lake Geneva and held up placards and flags.

One of the banners portrayed a Tibetan monk with his hands cuffed behind his back by the five Olympic rings. "No Olympics in China before the liberty of Tibet," the banner read.