The Olympic dreams of London, Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow rest in the hands of the 116-strong International Olympic Committee on Wednesday.
So who makes up this diverse bunch of royals, politicians, sports administrators and former Olympians?
Find out with our rundown on the members from Europe. Check out another region by clicking on the map above.
Three of the 116 will not vote at all, while another 14 cannot vote in the first round, for a variety of reasons.
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EUROPE
Key players
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Tamas Ajan Hungary
Age: 66 - member since 2000
Trained as a PE teacher. Now International Weightlifting Federation president.
Thomas Bach Germany
Age: 58 - member since 1991
Team fencing gold medallist at 1976 Olympics. Former IOC vice-president.
Sepp Blatter Switzerland
Age: 69 - member since 1999
Fifa president since 1998. Began career in public relations and journalism.
Valeriy Borzov Ukraine
Age: 55 - member since 1994
Won 100m and 200m gold at 1972 Munich Olympics. Now a member of the Ukraine parliament.
Sergey Bubka Ukraine
Age: 41 - member since 1999
Pole vault legend and member of Ukraine parliament. Won Olympic gold in 1988 and broke world record 35 times. Recently elected head of Ukraine Olympic Commitee.
Franco Carraro Italy
Age: 65 - member since 1982
Italian Football Federation president. Former mayor of Rome and European water skiing champion.
Ottavio Cinquanta Italy
Age: 66 - member since 1996
Member of International Skating Union. Referee at Winter Games.
Phil Craven Britain
Age: 54 - member since 2003
Paralympian in wheelchair basketball from 1972-88 and swimming in 1972. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president since 2001. Former British Coal admin chief.
Manuela Di Centa Italy
Age: 42 - member since 1999
A five-times Winter Olympian in cross country skiing from 1984-98, winning seven medals - two gold. First Italian woman to make it to the top of Everest.
Guy Drut France
Age: 54 - member since 1996
Former French sports minister. Will not vote due to involvement in a court case relating to corruption among government officials, but insists he is innocent.
Rene Fasel Switzerland
Age: 55 - member since 1995
Dentist and Swiss army captain. Ice hockey referee and International Ice Hockey Federation president.
Nikos Filaretos Greece
Age: 80 - member since 1981
Former secretary general of Hellenic Olympic Committee. Member of Athens 2004 organising committee.
Grand Duke of Luxembourg Luxembourg
Age: 50 - member since 1998
Had military training at Sandhurst. Patron of several sporting organisations in Luxembourg.
Gerhard Heiberg Norway
Age: 66 - member since 1994
Head of organising committee for Lillehammer Winter Games in 1994.
Patrick Hickey Ireland
Age: 60 - member since 1995
Represented Ireland at judo. Secretary general of European Olympic Committees.
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Marc Hodler Switzerland
Age: 86 - member since 1963
Joint longest-serving member. Former Federation Internationale de Ski president.
Kai Holm Denmark
Age: 66 - member since 2002
President of Danish Olympic Committee. Vice-president of Danish Pools and Lotto Company Ltd.
l'Infante Dona Pilar de Borbon Spain
Age: 68 - member since 1996
Sister of King Juan Carlos. President of the International Equestrian Federation.
Anton Geesink Netherlands
Age: 71 - member since 1987
Olympic judo gold medallist in 1964. Has statue in his honour in home town of Utrecht.
Gian Franco Kasper Switzerland
Age: 61 - member since 2000
Editor of the St Moritz Kurier newspaper. International Ski Federation (FIS) president.
Jean-Claude Killy France
Age: 61 - member since 1995
Won three Olympic ski titles at 1968 Winter Games. Coca Cola and Rolex board member.
Jari Kurri Finland
Age: 45 - member since 2002
Won ice hockey bronze at Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998 and five-times winner of NHL's Stanley Cup. Owns a company publishing sports books.
Kikis Lazarides Cyprus
Age: 70 - member since 2002
Educated at Southampton University. President of Cyprus Olympic Committee. Chairman of Laiki Bank in Athens.
Fernando Lima Bello Portugal
Age: 73 - member since 1989
Road construction specialist. Olympic sailor (1968/72).
Gunilla Lindberg Sweden
Age: 58 - member since 1996
European Olympic Committees board member and IOC executive board member.
Arne Ljungqvist Sweden
Age: 74 - member since 1994
Lord-in-Waiting to the King of Sweden. Represented Sweden in high jump at 1952 Games.
Lambis Nikolaou Greece
Age: 69 - member since 1986
President of Hellenic Olympic Committee. Vice-president of Athens 2004 organising committee.
Denis Oswald Switzerland
Age: 58 - member since 1991
Won rowing bronze at 1968 Olympics. President of the International Rowing Federation. Judge at Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Mario Pescante Italy
Age: 66 - member since 1994
Italian MP and president of European Olympic Committees. Chef de mission for several Italian Olympic teams.
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Alexander Popov Russia
Age: 33 - member since 1999
Four-time Olympian - did 50m and 100m freestyle swim double in 1992 and 1996. Retired in February.
Prince Albert of Monaco Monaco
Age: 47 - member since 1985
Competed in bobsleigh at five Winter Olympics. Lieutenant in French navy and judo black belt.
Prince of Orange Netherlands
Age: 38 - member since 1998
History graduate. Honorary Member of the Royal Dutch Yachting and Rowing Association.
Princesse Nora of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
Age: 54 - member since 1984
Former head of Liechtenstein Olympic committee and of Liechtenstein Girl Scouts.
Princess Royal Britain
Age: 54 - member since 1988
Daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Competed in three-day event at 1976 Olympics. Former International Equestrian Federation president.
Craig Reedie Britain
Age: 64 - member since 1994
Former partner in a firm of independent financial advisors. Ex-badminton player and head of International Badminton Federation.
Jacques Rogge Belgium
Age: 63 - member since 1991
IOC president. Olympic yachtsman (1968/72/76) and former orthopaedic surgeon. The IOC chief will not vote, but could still make his influence felt behind the scenes.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr Spain
Age: 45 - member since 2001
Businessman and son of former IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch. Vice-president of International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM).
Pal Schmitt Hungary
Age: 63 - member since 1983
Former Hungarian ambassador and IOC vice-president. Fencing gold medallist at 1968 and 1972 Games.
Henri Serandour France
Age: 68 - member since 2000
President of French Olympic Committee. Former PE supervisor and international water polo player.
Vitaly Smirnov Russia
Age: 70 - member since 1971
IOC vice-president. Former Russian sports minister and executive president of 1980 Moscow Olympics organising committee.
Adne Sondral Norway
Age: 34 - member since 2002
Won speed skating medals at 1992, 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics, including gold in Nagano in 1998. Member of IOC athletes' commission.
Borislav Stankovic Serbia and Montenegro
Age: 79 - member since 1988
Former meat control inspector. Ex-national basketball team member and International Basketball Federation secretary general.
Irena Szewinska Poland
Age: 59 - member since 1998
A veteran of five Olympics between 1964 and 1980, winning gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m.
Peter Tallberg Finland
Age: 67 - member since 1976
Olympic yachtsman (1960/64/68/72/80).
Shamil Tarpischev Russia
Age: 57 - member since 1994
Former tennis pro and Davis Cup captain. Sports advisor to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Walther Troger Germany
Age: 76 - member since 1989
Former chief of German Olympic Committee. Member of organising committee for 1972 Munich Olympics.
Els van Breda Vriesman Netherlands
Age: 64 - member since 2001
Lawyer. President of International Hockey Federation (FIH) and member of 2012 evaluation commission.
Hein Verbruggen Netherlands
Age: 64 - member since 1996
Business consultant. President of the International Cycling Union.
Antun Vrdoljak Croatia
Age: 74 - member since 1995
Former stage and film actor, director and sports journalist. Member of the Supreme State Council, which advises the Croatian president.
Leo Wallner Austria
Age: 69 - member since 1998
Former economic advisor to Austrian prime minister. President of Austrian Olympic Committee.
Pernilla Wiberg Sweden
Age: 34 - member since 2002
Won skiing gold medals at 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.
Jan Zelezny Czech Republic
Age: 39 - member since 2004
Won three Olympic javelin golds and one silver between 1988 and 2000. Five-time world record holder.
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