From athletes in the lobby of the elegant hotel occupied by members of the International Olympic Committee, to high-profile politicians constantly bending the ears of IOC members, the seekers pulled out all the stops in the final days to try to win the 2008 games for Toronto.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien even got into the act as he flew into the Russian capital on an Airbus carrying more Canadian athletes to bolster efforts to show IOC members Toronto's bid was athlete- and people-friendly. Not unlike a baseball manager going to his bullpen in the final innings to save the game.

The official tally of Canadians who have lobbied and cajoled IOC members in Moscow topped 200, including Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, Hamilton Mountain MP Beth Phinney and Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

"We can't possibly go home and say there's more we could have done," athlete Larry Cain told The Spectator last night in a phone interview from the elegant Moscow Marriott Grand Hotel.

"There's a real sense of unity and common purpose amongst everybody," said the Oakville resident, who won gold and silver medals for canoeing at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Beijing, considered the favourite, is seeking the games along with Paris, Osaka and Istanbul. Source.