Paris Under The Spotlight

The IOC evaluation commission begin their inspection visit to Paris, the French capital, tomorrow.

Paris is the front runner in the five city race to win the 2012 Olympics.

Madrid, London and New York have already been visited by the commission and, after their four-day investigation into Paris, the commission will fly to Moscow.

Unfortunately for Paris, 24 hours after the commission begins its work, a national strike called to protest unemployment and French government plans to tamper with the 35-hour working week begins.

A cynic might suggest that the timing of the strike was deliberate!

However, the French unions say they are backing the bid and have no plans to disrupt the commission; but they would say that, wouldn't they?

That being said, a deal has even been reached with the staff of the Grand Hotel where the commission is staying not to strike.

The commission contains seven IOC members and one ex-member. Their private comments to colleagues after the five-city tour is completed, are likely to carry as much, if not more, weight as the official report.

Jean-Paul Huchon, president of the Ile de France regional council and a member of the Paris bid, told the French daily sports newspaper L'Equipe on Saturday that one IOC member told him during the Athens Games that he would never vote for Paris.

"One of your Olympic Committee friends voted against me,".

A French monthly magazine, asked five clairvoyants for their insight into the battle for 2012 and if Paris would win.

Only one 'saw' a Paris victory, one was uncertain, and three pictured a Paris defeat announced the magazine in it's February issue.

July 6 is the date that the decision will be announced.