Each of the other bidding cities has at least one perceived weakness.

The bidding cities, though, are intent on wowing the commission members as well as the news media.

But I do think the I.O.C. has created a pretty level playing field for the bidding cities.

Gold Coast and Hambantota were the two bidding cities.

The delegates were left with a perfect out by the evaluation report on six bidding cities, delivered last July.

Sapporo and Obihiro were named as the host cities on January 31, 2011, as sole bidding city.

In recent days, Olympic committee members had avoided meeting emissaries from the bidding cities.

There are many restrictions barring the bidding cities from communicating with or influencing directly the 115 voting members.

Of the five bidding cities, the favorites are St. Louis, Baltimore and Charlotte.

It also benefited from the negatives associated with the other bidding cities.