NEW YORK— In one corner stands New York City and in the other San Francisco as the two go head-to-head this Saturday, Nov. 2 for the U.S. Olympic Committees nod to host the 2012 Summer Games. The USOC executives will vote Staurday at its Colorado Springs, CO headquarters after representatives of both cities serve up a final 60-minute act of civic salesmanship. No matter which city wins the round, the International Olympic Committee will not make the ultimate selection until July 2005. Both of the USOC’s candidates have several challenges included in their bids: like the construction of new stadiums, housing for athletes, venues for all the games, and the enormous expense of building such developments. Despite these difficulties, USOC officials have high hopes for whichever city gets the nod, according to The Record in Hackensack, NJ. “We are very confident we will bring the Games to the United States in 2012,” said Charles Moore, who heads the bid-evaluation task force. “I think the chances are very good for either one.” The Big Apple bid is big— make that huge. A recent report, prepared for NYC2012 by Bear Stearns, estimates it would cost $6.5 billion to host the Games in New York. That includes $1.6 billion for a new West Side stadium that also would lure the Jets out of the Meadowlands, a $1.5 billion transit component by which the No. 7 IRT line would be extended to the West Side, and a $1 billion expansion of the Javits Convention Center. San Franciscos entire projected budget is only $2.4 billion. SOURCE: The Record, Hackensack, NJ
