Its main service is as an auction room for advertisers, whose bidding determines how prominently their link is displayed.

ECONOMIST: Internet advertising

In addition to a full room of buyers and celebrities, the fourth edition of the event attracted strong internet and intense telephone bidding.

FORBES: Charity Watch Auction in Monaco Raises $6.2M for MD Research

Strict bidding rules prohibit bidding cities from criticising each other, and the IOC indicated that bringing the five bid leaders together in the same room for the discussion in Turin would be unacceptable.

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