The winner for 2012 Olympics is...
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-06 14:23

SINGAPORE - The five world cities bidding for the right to stage the 2012 Olympics began making their pitches on Wednesday but few clues to the eventual winner emerged as the process reached its halfway stage.

Boxing icon Muhammad Ali arrives to the opening of the 117th International Olympic Committee session to make New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympic games in Singapore July 6, 2005. [Reuters]

Paris, New York and Moscow all gave hour-long presentations to the International Olympic Committee session with films and speeches showing their credentials and potential as great future Olympic hosts.

London and Madrid were due to make their presentations before the IOC's evaluation commission offers its report.

Around 100 IOC members will begin voting at 0945 GMT and the announcement of the winner is expected at around 1145 GMT.

Paris, widely regarded as the favorite, appeared more relieved than jubilant at the end of the opening presentation which featured a film by director Luc Besson stressing the romantic nature of the French capital.

IMPASSIONED PLEA

French President Jacques Chirac appeared in person to make an impassioned plea to the IOC. "The heart of Paris and the heart of France are beating in unison in the hope of becoming Olympic ground in 2012.

"Dear friends ... I shall vouch for this. You can put your trust in France, you can trust the French, you can trust us," he said.

Chirac was due to fly off immediately afterwards to join the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, hosted by British Prime Minister Tony Blair who spent two days in Singapore promoting the London bid.

France's President Jacques Chirac speaks during Paris' bid presentation at the 117th IOC session in Singapore July 6, 2005. [Reuters]

Blair left for home late on Tuesday after attending the formal opening of the IOC session. He and Chirac, at odds over both political and rival candidature issues in recent times, were seen shaking hands amicably at the post-opening party.

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