|
Havana
applies to host the
2012 Olympic Games
THE Cuban capital
will apply in May to host the 2012 Olympic Games
according to José Ramón Fernández, president of
the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC).
Fernández noted
that the COC executive committee unanimously agreed
to fill out the application forms, which have to be
sent to the International Olympic Committee
headquarters (IOC).
"We are asking
for a measuring unit so that the decision is not
based on number of installations or a city’s
population, but rather on merit and achievements in
the athletics sphere," Fernández told the
national press.
The COC president
praised Cuba’s merits, its international results,
already constructed sports installations, the
development of sports in schools, as well as the
capacity to organize and take on high-level events.
Fernández insisted
that the island is capable of guaranteeing "a
modest and well-organized games where priority is
placed on athletes and not sponsors."
The leader
specified that next January, the cities interested,
among them Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris will
need to respond to an IOC questionnaire.
The first
elimination will be made in mid-2004 and the final
decision will be announced in July 2005.
|
