Nine cities have submitted applications to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The cities are: Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.
No city will become a candidate until it is selected as such by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board in May 2004.
All nine cities will meet the IOC to receive background information on the Olympic Movement and the organisation of the Games at a seminar in October this year.
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In January 2004 the applicant cities must submit their replies to an IOC questionnaire and in mid-May the Executive Board will announce which candidate cities have been accepted.
The winning city will be announced at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore in July 2005.