New York Olympic bid may be dropped

New York Olympic bid leaders are to decide whether or not to pull out of the contest for the 2012 Games after plans for their stadium were blocked.

The city’s bid is in tatters following the decision to refuse funding for the Olympic stadium near Madison Square Garden - IOC members would find it impossible to support a candidate who can not even guarantee the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics events.

Many Olympic watchers believe New York may as well withdraw from the running now and leave London, Paris, Madrid and Moscow to battle it out until the vote on July 6.