The IOC has received official bids from Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) had until yesterday to notify the IOC of their intention to pursue a bid.
Interested cities will now have to go through a candidature acceptance procedure whereby the IOC will review their potential to organise the 2012 Olympic Games.
No city will become a candidate until it is selected as such by the IOC Executive Board in May 2004.
The key dates of the procedure are:
January 15, 2004
