New York, Jan 18: New York made its pitch for the 2012 Olympics on Friday (January 16), outlining a compact bid that plans every event to take place within 20 miles of the Games village. The New York bid committee chose a modest venue to launch its presentation, a restaurant at the Avalon Apartment Building, which would become part of the athletes' village. Daniel Doctoroff, deputy mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding and NYC2012 founder, focused on New York's energy, drive and spirit. Labelling New York "a world city", he emphasised it was the city, and not the United States, that was bidding for the Games. Doctoroff said: "We really see in New York a city that reflects the Olympic values, the things that draw people to the Olympic games and whether that is bringing the world together into one place, or the notion of fair competition or maybe most importantly the notion of dreams powering a movement. New York is really the city that embodies those values."


NYC 2012 officials avoided mention of the September 11 attacks during the presentation. But other officials said NYC2012 and the police department had developed a comprehensive security plan.


This plan will be continually bolstered to reflect the risks exposed by September 11 and the lessons of other high-profile events, such as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.


Paris, London, Madrid, Moscow, Leipzig, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and Havana have also submitted bids for the Games. Athens will stage this year's Olympics and Beijing will host the 2008 Games.


Bureau Report