The 2004 Olympic Games are going full throttle in Athens, Greece, but many people are focused on where this sports extravaganza will be held  eight years from now in 2012.    While athletes are busy swimming in pools, jumping in volleyball sand pits, lifting weights, throwing punches, making judo throws and all of the other sports on today's schedule, sports leaders from the finalist cities for the 2012 Olympics are holding press conferences.    New York City is one of the finalists for the 2012 Olympics. They are representing the United States, and, indirectly, representing the sport of wrestling in their bid. It was NYC2012 who partnered with USA Wrestling and the Metropolitan Wrestling Association to organize both the 2001 World Wrestling Championships (which were cancelled due to 9/11) and the 2003 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Madison Square Garden.     This competition is as fierce as the sporting events out in the venues. All five candidate cities have a chance to bring home the prize - the right to host the Summer Olympics. A press conference held during the Olympic Games is a great opportunity to make the case why they deserve this opportunity.    When you get to the huge major press conference room, there are tables for the literature for each bid city. New York, Paris, London, Moscow and Madrid all have printed up fancy press kits to hand to anybody and everybody. The journalists ask for pins from the people working the tables.    The press conference for New York was moderated by Mike Moran, the long-time USOC Communications pro who is now working with NYC2012. Those speaking included:  · Dan Doctoroff, the NYC2102 founder  · Peter Ueberroth, the USOC Chairman  · Donna DeVarona, NYC2012 consultant  · IOC members Anita DeFrantz, Jim Easton and Bob Ctvrtlik    Ueberroth, who became famous worldwide for running the successful 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, spoke first.    "The race to host the 2012 Olympic Games will be very competitive," said Ueberroth. "We have four formidable host cities, but we know New York can win. In my opinion, New York has formulated a fantastic plan. I am surprised that one of the world's greatest cities, New York, has not hosted the Olympic Games yet."    "New York brings people from all over the world and melts them into one Olympic family," he continued. "This makes New York uniquely positioned to tell the Olympic story."    Doctoroff, who has hands-on involvement in all the details of the bid , gave an extended description of bid specifics, including the "Olympic X," which shows the transportation routes to the proposed venues.    He noted the five principles that guide the work by NYC2012. They were:  · Athlete centered  · Compact plan  · Spectacular setting  · Public support  · Enduring legacy    Wrestling would be hosted in the portion of the plan called "Olympic Square" on Manhattan's West Side in the Javitz Convention Center. This is the center of the entire plan, where many of the key activities are happening and many of the important places (such as the Main Press Center) is located.    During his address, Doctoroff mentioned the World Wrestling Championships which were hosted in New York City in 2003 at Madison Square Garden. Those who saw the World Championships in New York understand how exciting it would be to have an Olympic wrestling competition in the heart of the city.    Doctoroff expressed one of the themes of the bid, saying "New York is an Olympic Village every day."    "New Yorkers can't wait to greet the Olympics and the participating athletes and make our home their home," said Doctoroff. "We will do whatever it takes to be great partners with the Olympic family. We will use every powerful resource New York City has to present a spectacular Games."    DeVarona and DeFrantz, two of the most influential women in the Olympic family, offered their support.    "We are passionate that the New York City bid will provide an extraordinary experience for athletes in 2012," said DeVarona.    "The Olympic dream in this world is based upon the principle of excellence and mutual respect," said DeFrantz. "New York City is a microcosm of the world. Every day there, eight million dreams are born."    The organizers showed an inspiring video of a torch relay, with many different people, running the flame through New York City, including such places as Grand Central Station and Times Square. At the end, it showed an amazing fireworks display over the Statue of Liberty.    Doctoroff answered a number of questions, on details such as venue construction, security, visas, transportation and politics. He stressed that they had a strong plan in place, but was willing to make it even better if required by the international community.    "All we want to be is a great partner to the IOC," he said. "They are the experts. We will listen, respect and respond."    Why should people who are busy working the 2004 Olympic Games have any interest or concerns about an event eight years away?    New York hopes to convince all doubters that perhaps the most famous city in the world can run an amazing Olympics to remember. Informing and educating the international media is an important part of the process. Selling the U.S. press is a big part of this as well.    Bill Rhoden of the New York Times said the idea of an Olympics in New York was "cool." He noted that New York "gets things done." It will be the job of NYC2012 to convince Rhoden and his peers in the media that everything in this plan will work, and will provide a better Olympic experience than Paris, London, Moscow and Madrid can offer.    The U.S. wrestling community should get excited thinking about a New York Olympics. Picture today's college wrestling stars standing in Javitz Convention Center in New York on the center of an Olympic mat in 2012, competing in front of sell-out crowds of U.S. wrestling fans. It could happen    Athletics are not the only contests going on this week.