COLORADO SPRINGS, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The United States Olympic Committee Saturday named New York as its candidate to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.
New York and San Francisco were selected as finalists in August, when the USOC narrowed the list from a field that included Houston and Washington, D.C.
New York garnered 132 of 223 points from the 123-member USOC board. USOC President Marty Mankamyer made the announcement following the committee's annual meeting.
As soon as Mankamyer made the announcement, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" blared from speakers.
"The benefits to New York are enormous," New York Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff said. "And we know that New Yorkers will come together, as we always do when facing great challenges, to raise the bar, perform at championship levels and bring home the gold."
Among those in attendance for the announcement were Doctoroff, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor Billy Crystal, a New York native who spoke during the city's one-hour presentation to the USOC.
New York joins a strong international field that could include Toronto, Rome and Paris. The International Olympic Committee will pick the host in 2005.
New York had mounted an ambitious campaign to land the Olympics and became a sentimental favorite following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The city stressed its ability to handle large crowds and pointed to its ethnic diversity, which could prove attractive to IOC members. Its public transportation system also is an asset, keeping athletes from traveling on busy roads.
New York is expected to push for a huge Olympic stadium to be built in Manhattan. It also could use existing facilities such as Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium and Nassau Coliseum.
San Francisco promoted its waterfront setting and scenery and has used the Golden Gate Bridge as an emblem. The city's plan was to have more than 90 percent of the events within 32 miles of the Olympic village.
Although New York is one of the world's most diverse cities, there is concern the IOC still resents the Congressional hearings into the bribery scandal at the Salt Lake City Winter Games, reducing the odds for an American candidate.
The 2004 Summer Olympics will be held in Athens and the 2008 Games are scheduled for Beijing.
