As 1 of 5 finalists, Moscow is optimistic on 2012 Olympic bid

'All five cities that want to host the Summer Olympics of 2012 have an equal chance of winning. While Russia was considered an outsider at first, we are now one of only five,' Deputy Moscow Mayor Valery Shantsev declared at a press conference. Shantsev heads the Moscow group working on the Olympic bid. The five cities still in contention are New York, Moscow, Paris, London and Madrid.

Shantsev said Moscow is the only one of the five cities that would handle all the Olympic events within the city itself. He also emphasized his committee's idea of the 'Olympic River.' He said: 'We don't mean this in some 'virtual' sense. We are planning to use the Moscow River as the main transportation nexus for Olympic visitors and participants.'

Announcement of the choice of city for the 2012 Summer Games is expected in July 2005.