You need to make sure you tailor your discussions to them."But nobody can win this bid based on core support. Unlike elections in the UK, there are multiple rounds of voting. You win because you pick up other votes from other cities as they drop out. So at some level, every IOC member - and we have met every one several times - needs to support your bid."The clearest example occurred when Atlanta got the 1996 Games.
Sixty per cent of their voters in the last round had not voted for them in the first round. You can drive yourself crazy by trying to speculate on every possibility. Nobody knows precisely what will happen."But what, generally, will happen in Singapore is that lobbyists from all five bids will be desperately - using Lord Coe's phrase - "reinforcing and reinvigorating relationships" with IOC members. Most of the work has now been done, for good or ill, and Craig is hoping that his efforts in bringing together Lord Coe, the bid's chief executive Keith Mills or himself with IOC members at a long succession of international events will have paid off."You aim to talk in depth with people, and that can happen in hotel lobbies, or breakfast rooms, or other public areas, or when you are sitting near to them at sports events and conferences," Craig said "Sometimes you can find yourself sitting around for hours But you never want to harass people. But I would say the idea of there being a few strongmen who can leverage large blocs of votes is a thing of the past. I don't believe, for instance, that there is such a thing as 'the Muslim vote'. We are talking about 115 individuals from a variety of different backgrounds.
You have to recognise that, and treat every one accordingly."Some may be extremely interested in specific sports, others may be concerned about athletes' welfare. Others may want to see bidding cities offering a sporting legacy. The most important thing, when you get to see someone, is actually listening. You have to contact members at an IOC-approved event, such as a sports competition.