OSAKA -- Enthusiasm for Osaka's 2008 Olympic bid continues to fade after the International Olympic Committee announced strict conditions on candidate cities.
To explain the new bidding procedures, the IOC hosted a meeting with candidates for the 2008 Games on Feb. 25 at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ten cities, including heavily favored Beijing and Paris, as well as Osaka, hope to be host to the Olympics.
Because of the bribery scandals involving Salt Lake City, Nagano and Sydney, the IOC has toughened up the bidding process. IOC voting members will not be allowed to visit 2008 bid cities and candidates may not give them gifts.
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