"As of today, the final decision has not been made", ACM's Marcus Hutchinson said on Thursday. It will be made soon, and, according to Hutchinson, it will ultimately be made by the three-man steering committee: Bertarelli, Bonnefous and Firmenich, commodore of the Société Nautique de Genève.

"I understand they are going to lock themselves up somewhere in the mountains for two days and scrutinize each bid," said Monteiro de Barros, a former Olympic sailor for Portugal who conceived and is running Lisbon's bid.

While waiting, the four cities are in a turmoil all the time, hoping to convince AC Management in the final rush to the line.

In Valencia, the mayor, Rita Barberá Nolla emphazises the solidity of the Spanish position, guaranteed by the joint effort of the three administrations (the central Government, the Valencia regional Government and the City council).

In Italy, the longtime mayor of Naples and now regional governor of Campania Antonio Bassolino said the agreement, signed this week with the Berlusconi's Government, secures substantial new funds for the Naples' bid.

In France, the Marseille's Municipal Council by a majority of votes has today approved the final agreement with AC Management, with Communists and Greens (les Verts) voting against.

The debates were quite intense as opponents struggled to denounce what they consider to be excessive expenditures in times of tight budgets and to reject
the project to built a new marina at the "Vieux-Port" harbour entrance.

On this last point, Jean-Claude Gaudin declared that the extension of the jetty, "will be reduced by 30%", adjusted to and proportional to the number of envisaged syndicates should be foreseen (17 to 10 said the mayor of Marseille).