All five Olympics-2012 host bidders are strong, Moscow vice-mayor says

MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti, Olesya Shchegolkova) - On Monday the bidding commission of the International Olympic Committee published a report on inspecting the five cities claiming to host the Olympics 2012. It is now clear that all the five candidates are strong enough, head of the Moscow 2012 bidding committee Valery Shantsev, vice-mayor of Moscow, told a RIA Novosti news conference on Monday.

During the IOC visit to Moscow in March, Shantsev pointed out to the commission's words that it was an equal race, he added.

"They are indeed," he said. "Now, we have to persuade them that Moscow needs the Olympics more than others. I'm 150-percent sure of it."

Shantsev also said that the bidding commission's report indicates the sum which Moscow plans to spend on the Olympic Games, $1.84 billion. However insufficient, the budget is well-balanced, the commission said. Shantsev's commentary was that "every city has its own prices" and all the competitions in Moscow will be on sport facilities held in municipal property.

"In other countries competitions will be held on privately-owned facilities," Shantsev said. He added that their owners might charge a high rent.

In Moscow it is impossible, which is why the IOC commission called its budget well-balanced, Shantsev stressed.

In addition to the $1.84 billion, another $50 million will be set aside as a reserve, Shantsev said.