Bidding for the Olympics

Bidding conference
The IOC holds a two-day conference to provide interested cities and National Olympic Committees with insight into the opportunities that a city can gain from hosting the Olympic Games. The Bidding for the Games Conference will discuss the benefits of hosting the Games. Including the importance of developing a longterm vision and fixing objectives, well in advance of submitting a bid, to ensure a successful, lasting Games legacy.

Bidding
National Olympic Committees select from within their national territory cities to put forward bids to host an Olympic Games. The staging of the Paralympic Games is automatically included in the bid. Two Phases: Phase 1 - Applicant Cities Phase 2 Candidate Cities

Advantages
Prestige from hosting the games attracts trade and tourism The facilities which are built for use during the games can be used for the cities population for years to come Businesses in the city see a massive increase in trade during the games (like hotels and restaurants etc) The organisers can try to make a profit out of the games

Disadvantages
It is getting really expensive to host the games and more difficult to make any profit from it Any problems could mean the organisers lose money rather than make it Security must be a top priority to prevent terrorism and hooligans disrupting the games A cities infrastructure (transport and communication system) must be excellent to cope with the influx of visitors

Londons Bid
2003 Bid team formed. They put together the original Applicants Questionnaire, outlining details of how London would stage the Games. 16 January 2004 Bid officially launched at Covent Garden. Applicants Questionnaire sent to the IOC. 18 May 2004 IOC shortlists London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris. Event marked by firework display at the London Eye. May-November 2004 Candidate File put together, spelling out in detail how the London Games will be staged. 15 November 2004 15-year-old east London schoolgirl Amber Charles hands in Candidate File to IOC headquarters.

Londons Bid
February 2005 IOC's Evaluation Committee visits London and other candidate cities to inspect the plans. February July London 2012 team works on the final bid presentation. Public support for the Games grows: 75 per cent 'back the bid', with four million signed-up supporters. 6 July 2005 London 2012 delegation travels to Singapore to make its final presentation. Sebastian Coe presents London 2012s vision for a Games to inspire the youth of the world. Members of the IOC vote in secret electronically, until one city has more than 50% of the total votes. After each round, the country with the lowest number of votes is knocked out. Voting goes down to the final two cities - London and Paris. 12.46pm: Jaques Rogge announces London as the 2012 Host City, winning by 54 votes to 50. 12.46pm: London celebrates. And then the hard work begins