LONDON - It looks like Paris can't do anything wrong in the race to win the 2012 Olympics.

It looks like New York can't get its stadium off the ground.

The French capital cemented its front-runner status a month before the IOC's vote by receiving a glowing review Monday in the most competitive Olympic bid field in history.

"Don't expect us to be self-satisfied," Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said. "Our team is more united, more determined, more combative than ever."

London and Madrid also earned high praise in the 123-page report by the International Olympic Committee. New York received a mixed assessment, with concerns over its proposed stadium, while long-shot Moscow took criticism for its lack of detailed plans.

The IOC chooses the 2012 site July 6 in Singapore.

New York earned praise for its legacy plans, promotion of Olympic sports in America and strong potential for local sponsorship and licensing revenues. But the IOC noted that "no guarantees were provided" for the planned $2 billion West Side stadium in Manhattan, as well as an international broadcasting center.

The stadium, crucial to the bid's success, was put into further doubt Monday when a powerful state political leader rejected a funding proposal.

"This plan is at best, premature," New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, adding he was willing to continue talking about the issue.

The financing board failed to approve $300 million in state money for the stadium that would also serve as home to the NFL's New York Jets and would be the site of the 2010 Super Bowl. The plan, which needed unanimous approval from the three-member board, received only one vote.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg lobbied Silver in recent days for support of the stadium.

"If we don't have a stadium, we cannot get the Olympics," Bloomberg said after Silver's announcement. "I had not been able to persuade him."

The mayor said he would talk with members of the U.S. Olympic Committee about how to proceed.

But New York bid leader Dan Doctoroff was not dismayed.

"The IOC report has made crystal clear that we're in a great position to win ... so long as the stadium is approved," Doctoroff said.

The report also cited other issues for New York, noting that lack of dedicated Olympic lanes to some venues "may make it difficult to achieve the stated travel times."

Paris, which last hosted the Olympics in 1924, is bidding for the third time after defeats for the 1992 and 2008 games. London hasn't had the games since 1948, while Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympics. New York and Madrid are seeking their first games, but Atlanta hosted the games in 1996 and Barcelona in 1992.

The report didn't rank the five cities, but will serve as a guide for the 117 eligible voting IOC members when they cast secret ballots.

The report's summary praised the "very high quality" of the Paris and London bids. Madrid and New York were cited for "high quality" presentations.

The report was based on visits to the five cities by the IOC evaluation commission.

The IOC report praised Paris, among other things, for its sports concept, "excellent accommodation," and "high capacity and quality" transportation.

London, which has gained ground in recent months, was praised for the "significant sports and environmental legacies" involved in its plans for regenerating the city's rundown East Side.

However, the IOC noted that "careful planning would be required to ensure that all facilities are completed on time." The IOC also praised London's improved transportation plans.

Madrid, overlooked by many, scored highly in many facets and was lauded for planning "humanist, sustainable and environmentally friendly games." The report said 24 of 35 competition venues already exist.

On the down side, the report said Madrid may need to use hotels an hour away by train. It also cited a lack of guaranteed accommodation for sailing events on the island of Mallorca, and said the design and layout of the Olympic village requires "some revision."

Moscow received the most stinging comments.

"A lack of detailed planning in the candidature file and background information made it difficult for the commission to evaluate the project," the IOC said.