Madrid, London, New York, Paris and Moscow have been assessed by inspectors in 17 key areas, including venue plans, transport, public support and security.

This is how the candidate cities stand with just hours to go:

PARIS
Hosts: 1900, 1924
Betting (to win 2012 bid): 4-9

The French capital has long been regarded as favourite and remains odds-on to win but main rival London appears to be closing in during the last few hours of lobbying before the final vote.

The Paris team believes the fact that the city is bidding for the third third time in 20 years and that it has key venues like its Olympic stadium already in place will be key.

Certainly, Paris' chances were only enhanced when its bid received the most overtly glowing assessment from the inspectors.

The bid's financial, marketing, security, environmental and Paralympic plans all tick the required boxes, as does Paris' experience of hosting major sporting events.

The report said an "athlete-centred" Games would provide a significant legacy for the city, and plans for an Olympic village midway between two venue clusters won approval.

At 85 per cent, the city's public support rating is second only to Madrid's per cent.

The only negatives in the official report were the distance between the Olympic village and the rowing venue, and the possibility of a railway line near the village causing noise and security problems.

LONDON
Hosts: 1908, 1948
Betting: 7-4

London's bid has gained momentum over the past year, and the team behind it believes it is now neck and neck with its rivals as the vote approaches, a sentiment echoed by the bookmakers' odds, which have halved in recent days.

The city trailed behind Paris and Madrid following an initial assessment last year but received a glowing report from the IOC inspectors in June.

Its candidate file was described as "of a very high quality", and the fact that athletes had direct input into venue and Olympic village planning was noted.

Inspectors said London's plans would be the catalyst for regeneration in the east of the city, with "significant sports and environmental legacies".

Crucially, the city's public transport system did not receive criticism, although the planned programme of improvements would have to be "fully delivered".

On the negative side, London's public approval rating of 68 per cent is better only than New York's, although levels of political support have been praised.

NEW YORK
US hosts: 1904 St Louis; 1938 * 1984 LA; 1996 Atlanta
Betting: 25-1

New York's bid suffured a near fatal blow when the proposed stadium in Manhatten was blocked by city officials, but they salvaged it with a last-minute deal to switch the venue to Queens.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg believes the new venue, home to the New York Mets, is even better than the original, but New York remains an outsider to win the vote.

However, despite the confusion over the main stadium, the Big Apple did well in several key areas of the IOC's assessment.

The report praised the budget, marketing, security, accommodation and the city's ability to build the required venues.

Inspectors also said the Olympics would regenerate riverfront areas and leave an environmental legacy.

But a string of issues, some minor and some pretty crucial, mean New York's bid team have some fast talking to do to win over IOC members.

As well as the stadium, there are concerns that delays in obtaining the land for the athletes' village site could "impact on construction schedules".

New York's 59 per cent public approval rating is also the lowest of the lot.

MADRID
Spanish hosts: 1992 Barcelona
Betting (To win bid): 10-1

Madrid is largely viewed as the dark horse in the race to win the Games.

The Spanish capital's transport system, plans for an environmentally friendly Olympics and legacy for the future all won praise in the IOC's assessment report.

And it was noted that 83% of venues required were in place or in the pipeline.

Its public approval rating of 91% is the highest of all the five bidding cities.

However, security concerns were heightened when Basque separatist movement ETA were blamed for an explosion outside a proposed Olympic venue, weeks before the final vote was due to take place.

The city has also been told it will have to revise its Olympic village design to meet IOC requirements.

MOSCOW
Hosts: 1980
Betting: 50-1

Moscow has been the outsider since the start of the bidding process and remains that way as the final vote approaches.

The bid team remains bullish, claiming the Olympics would leave a greater legacy in Moscow than in any other city.

But its assessment was the weakest, with concerns about a lack of detailed plans in a number of areas.

Inspectors also highlighted security concerns around the athletes' village, and a question mark over the quality of hotels.

Air pollution levels and the high amount of rainfall in July were other negatives.

The Russian capital's support rating of 77 per cent is better than London and New York's, and 79 per cent of venues are in place.