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IOC picks five finalists in bidding for first Youth Olympics

Associated Press
Updated: November 19, 2007, 10:56 AM ET

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Five cities were selected Monday as finalists to host the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

Making the shortlist were Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Moscow; Singapore and Turin, Italy. The inaugural Youth Olympics will feature about 3,500 athletes aged 14-18.

The decision was announced the International Olympic Committee. Four cities were eliminated -- Debrecen, Hungary; Guatemala City; Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia, and Poznan, Poland.

The IOC will choose the host city in February 2008.

The finalists will be evaluated by a six-person commission headed by Sergei Bubka, an IOC executive board member and former Olympic pole vault champion.

Three of the finalists are former Olympic host cities: Moscow held the 1980 Summer Games, Athens staged the 1896 and 2004 Olympics and Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Games.

The first Winter Youth Olympics will be held in 2012 for about 1,000 athletes. The host city will be picked in 2009.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News ... 78365.html

S'pore shortlisted to host 2010 Youth Olympics
LAUSANNE (Switzerland) - FIVE cities - three from Europe and two from Asia - were selected as finalists Monday in the bidding to host the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
Making the shortlist were Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Moscow; Singapore, and Turin, Italy.

Four cities were eliminated from the race - Debrecen, Hungary; Guatemala City; Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia, and Poznan, Poland.

The decision was announced by the International Olympic Committee following an assessment of the bid files by a panel of experts.

The finalists for the event - which will feature athletes aged 14-18 - will be evaluated by a six-man commission headed by IOC executive board member and former Olympic pole vault champion Sergei Bubka.

The executive board will make a recommendation to the full IOC, which will choose the host city by postal vote in February 2008.

Three of the finalists are former Olympic host cities: Moscow held the 1980 Summer Games, Athens staged the 1896 and 2004 Olympics and Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Games.

The Youth Olympics, which will feature about 3,500 athletes, are designed to encourage young people to get involved in sports and spend less time in front of computer and television screens.

The first Winter Youth Olympics will be held in 2012 for about 1,000 athletes. The host city will be picked in 2009. -- AP