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Candidates for hosting 2020 Olympics to be presented in Moscow

The meeting agenda will include the issue of the election of the ANOC president

MOSCOW, April 10 (Itar-Tass) — The countries candidates for hosting the 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be for the first time presented in Moscow at the General Assembly of the Association of the National Olympic Committees (ANOC), President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Patrick Hickey said at a press conference at Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“This week a conference of 204 recognised National Olympic Committees (NOC) will open. This is a very important event because cities candidates for hosting the 2020 Games will for the first time assert themselves there. For President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov this event will be an excellent venue for the demonstration of the possibilities of the country,” Hickey said.

In addition, the meeting agenda will include the issue of the election of the ANOC president: “The previous head of the organisation has retired and now we have to elect a new leader, at least by 2014, because the presidential term was to expire in exactly two years.”

The EOC will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday on the eve of the ANOC General Assembly meeting: “The issue for us will be the European Olympic Games. Every continent, except our, has such a tournament. The possibility and desirability of their games will be discussed by representatives of all 48 NOCs that are part of the organisation.”

According to Hickey, “Europe has a difficult economic situation, but, nevertheless, it is this continent that will host the next two Olympic Games.” In an interview with Itar-Tass the European Olympic Committees president said that he expects that the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in London will be a grand occasion: “A week ago, I visited the UK capital and saw the final preparations. I must say that the organisers have tried their best. I think it would be a grand event, which once again will amaze the whole world.”

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXX Olympiad or London 2012 Olympic Games, are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. Following a bid headed by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe, London was selected as the host city on 6 July 2005 during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, defeating Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

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