The procedure designed by the International Olympic Committee to select the Host City for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008 consists of two phases. The first entails meeting with the IOC and a questionnaire. On the basis of this questionnaire and the report by the IOC Candidature Acceptance Working Group, the IOC Executive Board met on 28 August 2000 to decide which cities would be accepted as Candidate Cities.

They are Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka, Paris, and Toronto.

These cities then enter phase II, which officially begins their candidature. The procedures, rules and deadlines for Candidate Cities are detailed in the "Manual for Candidate Cities." In sum, the Candidate Cities must provide the IOC with substantial information relative to their candidature and their plans for organizing the 2008 Olympic Games. The Candidate Cities prepare a Candidature File that is submitted to the IOC for review and distribution to voting members. The Candidature File, consists of detailed information pertaining to the current situation of the city and plans the city has developed to host a successful 2008 Olympic Games.

The IOC appoints an Evaluation Commission to study the candidatures of all Candidate Cities. This Commission is composed of: three members representing the International Sports Federations, three members representing the National Olympic Committees, four IOC members, one member proposed by the Athletes' Commission, one member representing the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), members of the IOC administration as well as specialists whose advice may be helpful.

The IOC Evaluation Commission submits a report to the IOC, which IOC release to the public. The IOC Executive Board then, based on the Evaluation Commission report draws up the list of Candidate Cities to be submitted to the IOC Session for election.

The election of the Host City for the XXIX Olympiad in 2008 will be made on 13 July 2001 during the 112th IOC Session in Moscow. Enditem