IOC to vote on host city of 2012 Games

    SINGAPORE, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The 117th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session opened in Singapore on Tuesday night, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced at a grand ceremony.

    "The Olympic Games was founded on the belief that sport can play an important role in building a peaceful and better world," Lee noted, saying that the Olympic Games give nations opportunity to celebrate, stories to tell, and memories to share.

    Addressing the opening ceremony, IOC President Jacques Rogge noted that the IOC members will make some important choices during this session.

    "The election of the host city of the 2012 Games will not be easy in view of the very high quality of the candidates," said Rogge, adding that all the five candidate cities, including Paris, London, New York, Madrid and Moscow, are capable of organizing Games of the highest quality.

    The members of the committee will also review the composition of the Olympic program for 2012, which, according to Rogge, is limited to a maximum of 28 sports, 301 events and 10,500 athletes,and can not be allowed to grow.

    Calling the fight against doping the first priority of the IOC,Rogge said that the committee has been able to affirm its values by making important progress in this aspect.

    According to the program of the session, the host city of the 2012 Games will be selected on Wednesday while the discussion and vote on Olympic program will be held on Friday. Enditem   

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