1.   Also, delegates have been prohibited from visiting the candidate cities, purportedly to shield them from receiving excessive gifts and favors.

2.   And the U.S. candidate city could face heavy competition from European capitals like Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin and Moscow.

3.   Beijing is the first of the five candidate cities the commission will visit, followed by Osaka, Istanbul, Toronto and Paris.

4.   Bell neglected to note that most IOC members vote for the candidate city in their own region in the first round.

5.   Candidate cities will make last ditch efforts to sway public opinion.

6.   From now on, the Lords will be forbidden to visit candidate cities, Samaranch says.

7.   He suggested the most expensive presents came when IOC members went on shopping sprees in candidate cities.

8.   Instead of holding lavish receptions, the candidate cities are invited to lavish receptions run by the city of Budapest.

9.   Instead, the selection committee would recommend two finalists from the six candidate cities, with the full membership choosing the victor.

10.   IOC member Lamine Keita of Mali appealed to both U.S. candidate cities to educate his youngsters.