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PARIS - Singapore should prevail in the race to win the right to host the 2010 Youth Olympics, the dreamchild of International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, claimed a senior IOC member on Saturday.
He told AFP that while Bangkok could be eliminated as a viable candidate, Singapore fitted the bill as host because it is probably not capable of hosting senior Olympic Games - an option which Rogge himself said he preferred.
On that basis that should rule out Athens, Moscow and Turin, all of whom have hosted Olympic Games in the past.
"Singapore would appear to fit the bill," the IOC member said.
"It is highly efficient and capable of delivering a great Youth Games.
"Moscow actually put on a Youth Olympics a few years ago which was a stunning success thanks to the mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who is sharp and highly intelligent."
However, the IOC member said that Moscow could suffer a backlash following the Black Sea resort of Sochi's successful bid for the 2014 Winter Games, where they sensationally edged the Korean candidate of Pyeongchang.
"There is some ill feeling towards its bid because there are several people associated with Sochi's candidacy, who have come on board.
"There is a certain groundswell of bad sentiment against them because several members were promised by them certain things, and I am not talking about money here or anything of a dubious nature, which have not been delivered.
"One very high profile IOC member was seething when he saw them turn up at Lausanne to lobby for Moscow and used rather colourful language, which I am sure will not result in a vote for Moscow!"
The IOC will vote by mail with the result announced sometime in March for a Games - for 14-18 year olds - that is seen to be Rogge's legacy to the Olympic movement and which he gained approval for at the IOC Session in Guatemala City last July.
- AFP /ls
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