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| Thursday, July 12 Updated: July 13, 8:17 AM ET |
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| Candidates make final pitch for 2008 Games Associated Press | |||
MOSCOW -- Beijing's Olympic bidders urged the IOC on Friday
to help them promote social and economic change by awarding the
2008 Summer Games to China.
As its four challengers used a mixture of ceremonies,
celebrities and some bare-knuckled jabs to make their final pitch,
Beijing's last presentation to the International Olympic Committee
stuck with what the city has stressed all along _ that the games
can accelerate reforms begun in the last two decades.
"More than 90 percent of the Chinese people support Beijing's
bid, many because they believe it will help improve their quality
of life," Beijing Mayor Lui Qi said. "It will help promote our
economic and social policies and will further help develop our
human rights cause."
He Zhenliang, a longtime IOC member who was master of ceremonies
of the Chinese presentation, said a Beijing victory would help
"all mankind."
"The whole world will benefit," He said. "The message you
send today may signal a new era of global unity."
The daylong presentations came as the IOC opened its historic
112th general assembly and prepared to vote on the 2008 city later
in the day.
Besides Beijing, long considered the front-runner, the bidders
were Toronto, Paris, Osaka and Istanbul.
IOC members are forbidden to vote in rounds where a city from
their home country is entered, so 13 were on the sidelines for the
first of a possible four rounds. With 105 members eligible to vote
on the first ballot, 53 votes were needed to win. The city getting
the fewest votes in each round is eliminated.
While Beijing's bid was strong, going to China would not
necessarily be an easy choice.
A rising sports power with an emerging market of 1.3 billion,
China also is the target of human-rights critics worldwide.
Outside the trade center, police stepped up security, with a
cordon of officers around the IOC hotel. They stopped protesters
for Tibetan and press freedom from getting within 200 yards of the
venue, taking 14 into custody and warning others not to come back.
Toronto and Paris were considered Beijing's chief challengers
and would be more conventional choices for the IOC.
All three leading contenders received excellent marks from the
IOC's own evaluation team.
That report also placed Istanbul and Osaka far behind the
leaders.
The cities made 45-minute formal presentations, followed by 15
minutes of questions from the delegates. Under strict rules adopted
following the scandal over Salt Lake City's winning bid for the
2002 Winter Games, these presentations could become a key part of
the decision-making.
Members were barred from visiting candidate cities or having
anything beyond the barest contact with their representatives.
Osaka led off the presentations, showing a short film opening
with a full moon, fire and Japanese drummers. It also featured
14-year-old violinist Mi-Sa Yan, who played the "Olympic Hymn."
"If the games come to Osaka, it is my dream to play the Olympic
anthem at the opening ceremony," she said in English. "Please
bring the games to Osaka."
Paris brought in big guns -- Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and
Zinedine Zidane, the star of France's World Cup championship team
who just signed a record dlrs 65 million deal with Real Madrid.
"France has already proved its capacity to host great sports
events," Jospin said. "It wants to make sure the universal
Olympic values radiate throughout the world. We will bring to life
this message in Paris."
Toronto opened with Iroquois Indians in feathered head dresses
beating drums, and went right at Beijing's chief arguments.
"I did not come to Moscow to talk politics. I came to express
Canada's passion for sports," Canadian Prime Minster Jean Chretien
said. Added Ontario Premier Mike Harris: "Which bid provides the
certainty that all will be well in seven years?"
But Toronto took a political hit, too, when it was questioned
about Mayor Mel Lastman's remarks that he feared attending an
Olympic meeting in Africa because, "I just see myself in a pot of
boiling water with all these natives dancing around me."
"The mayor made a mistake," Chretien said. "He didn't express
himself well and he has apologized deeply."
IOC member Dick Pound of Canada said Lastman was sending a
formal apology to Ibrahim Diallo, president of the Association of
National Olympic Committees of Africa.
Keba Mbaye, Africa's senior IOC member, said he had met with
Lastman and accepted an apology.
"The incident is now closed, it's over with," Mbaye said.
Lastman was not on the stage but delivered a videotaped message,
which received mild applause.
There was more noise -- dancing, even -- for Vanessa Morgan, a
young member of the Toronto presentation, who sang a snappy number,
"Expect the World." Many of the IOC members were on their feet,
swaying and clapping in time.
Beijing, the next-to-last presenter, gave a workmanlike
presentation of statistics, slides and shots of grinning, winning
athletes. While extremely professional, it lacked the glitz of most
of its rivals and emphasized the facts.
It also took little time before dealing with the human-rights
issue, a sticking point when Beijing lost the 2000 Games to Sydney
by two votes.
"Eight years have passed since then, and my country has made
tremendous strides toward reform and progress," He said as he
kicked off the presentation.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing continued on the same line.
"We have enjoyed political stability, social progress and
economic prosperity," Li said. "Our government stands firmly
behind the bid. They believe it will not only serve the interest of
the Chinese people but contribute to peace, stability and
development in the world."
More IOC members asked questions of the Beijing team than any
other, but none dealt with human rights or other social issues.
They included queries on the environment, language, communications,
traffic, pre-games drug testing and the distribution of any surplus
from the games' budget.
Istanbul wrapped up the presentations with a low-key
presentation trying to dispel IOC concerns that Istanbul does not
have the necessary financial stability or infrastructure. There
also was an emphasis on the city's geographical position at the
crossroads of Europe and Asia.
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ALSO SEE Canada prime minister apologizes for mayor's remarks IOC vote could impact both world politics and history Russian riot police needed to break up anti-Beijing protest SLOC chief stops just short of Beijing endorsement Congress unlikely to officially oppose Beijing bid Americans DeFrantz, Baldwin at odds over IOC presidency Qingdao would prosper if Beijing lands 2008 bid | |
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