Moscow joins 2012 Olympics battle

Story Tools RELATED International Olympic Committee  QUICKVOTE Which city should stage the 2012 Olympics? Paris London New York Moscow Madrid Another VIEW RESULTS

MOSCOW, Russia -- Moscow officially entered the battle to host the 2012 Olympics Friday, joining Paris, London, New York, Madrid, Havana and Leipzig.

The Russian capital last staged the games in 1980 when they were boycotted by the United States in protest at the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan a year earlier.

Russia's Olympic committee voted unanimously Friday to confirm Moscow as a candidate for 2012, Reuters reported.

Paris confirmed its bid Wednesday, a week after London. Both cities have government backing and say it will cost about $7 billion to stage the event. (Full story)

Brazil is considering nominating Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo.

The International Olympic Committee has set a July 15 deadline for bids with the winner to be announced July 6, 2005, in Singapore.

The 2004 games are in Athens with Beijing hosting the 2008 event.

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