2008 Summer Olympic bids

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2008 Summer Olympic bids</big>
Overview · Beijing (winner) Toronto · Paris · Istanbul · Osaka
Image:Beijing2008.jpg 2008 Summer Olympics
Details
Election venue	Moscow
Committee	International Olympic Committee
Important dates
Shortlist	15 May 2001
Decision	13 July 2001
Decision
Winning bid	Beijing 2008
Runner-up	Toronto 2008

Five cities made the shortlist to host the 2008 Summer Olympics which were awarded to Beijing, People's Republic of China on July 13, 2001. The other cities were Toronto (Canada), Paris (France), Istanbul (Turkey) and Osaka (Japan).

Final selection

In the first round of voting, only Beijing, Toronto, Paris, and Istanbul remained; Osaka was eliminated after having received only six votes. In the second round, Beijing received enough votes to grab the absolute majority, and no subsequent rounds of voting were required. The results of the second round were as follows: Beijing garnered 56 votes, Toronto 22, Paris 18, and Istanbul 9 [1]. Although some claimed that the bids from Paris and Toronto were technically superior, the IOC, under Juan Antonio Samaranch, was especially sympathetic and eager to see China, the world's most populous country, play host to the Olympic Movement. While many nations praised the decision, several independent groups objected arguing that China's human rights record made it unfit for the honor. To quell concerns over this, Beijing chose the motto of "New Beijing, Great Olympics" in order to emphasize the country's movement towards new ideals for the new millennium.

2008 Summer Olympics bidding results
City	NOC Name	Round 1	Round 2
Beijing	Image:Flag of Peoples Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China	44	56
Toronto	Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada	20	22
Paris	Image:Flag of France.svg France	15	18
Istanbul	Image:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey	17	9
Osaka	Image:Flag of Japan.svg Japan	6	-