The nine cities hoping to stage the Olympic Games in 2012 have begun unveiling details of their bids. Paris, the favourite, was first to launch its candidacy, with a glitzy ceremony at the Eiffel Tower on Friday. France's capital will centre its bid around the 80,000 capacity Stade de France - and 14 of the 32 stadiums needed are already built.

Moscow, vying to host only its second ever Olympic Games, is considered an underdog in comparison with Paris, London, Madrid and New York.

Leipzig hopes to bring back the Olympics to Germany by highlighting its user-friendly concept of small-scale games.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has given his full support to Madrid's bid. He revealed that 70% of the proposed communication and infrastructure projects have already begun.

The list of cities who have made the initial cut will be announced by the IOC in May, with the candidate cities then required to submit more detailed bid information in November. The final vote by the 125 IOC members will be taken in Singapore on July 6, 2005.

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