New York, Paris, London and Moscow are among the nine cities formally in the running to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the IOC said Wednesday.
The announcement was made following the expiration of the deadline for cities to announce their interest in hosting the Games to the International Olympic Committee.
"We are delighted to announce such a long list of prestigious cities", IOC President Jacques Rogge said in a statement.
"I believe this reflects the strong image of the Olympic Games and the IOC's policy of reinvesting revenues in the staging of the Games and the care for a strong urban legacy. We look forward to an exciting competition."
The nine bidders are: Havana, Cuba; Istanbul, Turkey; Leipzig, Germany; London; Madrid, Spain; Moscow; New York; Paris; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The cities are not yet formally "candidates" for the games as the IOC still must review their potential to organize the event.
The IOC will announce which of the cities are candidates in May of next year. The final decision will be taken on July 6, 2005, during an IOC meeting in Singapore.
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Havanna im Rennen um die Olympischen Spiele 2012
