Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country's people would benefit if Moscow hosted the 2012 Olympics. "It's important to note that Russia fully subscribes to the humanistic appeal of the Olympics," he told the visiting 13-member Olympic panel.
"If the Olympics were to be held in Moscow, this would be conducive to developing and enhancing these beliefs in Russian society.
"And our country is one of the greatest athletic powers in the world."
Moscow last staged the Games in 1980 when the USA boycotted the event because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
"The world has changed, Russia itself has changed but one thing has not changed and that is the interest of the Russian people and their love of sports," Putin added in his speech which was made during a reception at the Kremlin.
Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and former President Boris Yeltsin also made speeches during the evening.
 | INSPECTION SCHEDULE Sun: IOC panel arrived Mon: Presentation of Moscow 2012 bid Tue: Tour of existing sports facilities Wed: Reception with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, plus further presentation from bid committee Thu: Visit to the Olimpiysky sports compound in downtown Moscow and the Lokomotiv Stadium |
Earlier in the day the IOC panel had held behind-closed-doors meetings with Moscow officials to discuss the country's political and economic climate and the security situation in the capital.
A leading federal law enforcement minister said the fact that so many sporting venues were located in a relatively small area would make it easier to look after security.
The city would stage all events within 16 miles of the city centre with many proposed Games venues and the Olympic village close to the Moscow River.
Moscow is the last of the five competing cities to be inspected with the full IOC selecting the host city in Singapore on July 6.
MMIX
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