Sportcal | News | Madrid 2020 on the Road to Buenos Aires

Olympics - 24 May 2012

Madrid 2020 on the Road to Buenos Aires

• The Executive Board recognizes once again the strength of the Spanish project
•  Madrid achieves the highest rating
•  “This time we have the winning project”, stated Mayor Ana Botella
•  Alejandro Blanco pleased with the results as the IOC “confirms we are walking through the right path”
•  The IOC vote for the 2020 host takes place September 7 next year at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires.

Quebec, 23 May. Madrid was put on the shortlist of the International Olympic Committee and officially became Candidate City to host the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in 2020, as announced by Gillbert Felli, IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games, at the Quebec Convention Centre (Canada), where the 10th edition of the SportAccord Convention is taking place.

Tokyo and Istanbul will be the rivals of Madrid in the final decision to be made in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on September 7th, 2013. Baku and Doha's 2020 Olympic dreams were shattered of the Olympic race as they did not make it to the shortlist.

The decision was known after the meeting of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee held in the Canadian city, where the delegations of the five applicant cities where present.

Exultation amongst the Spanish Delegation

The announcement of the International Olympic Committee was received with great enthusiasm by the Spanish Delegation – led by Ana Botella, Mayor of Madrid; Alejandro Blanco, President of Madrid 2020; and Miguel Cardenal, Secretary of State for Sport and representing the Spanish Government – welcomed the assessment of the IOC.

Víctor Sánchez, ; Theresa Zabell, International Relations CEO; Patricia Lázaro, Councillor for Institutional Coordination of the City of Madrid; and Jaime Lissavetzky, leader of the opposition at the Madrid Council were also present, along with the three Spanish IOC members Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, Marisol Casado and José Perurena.

“A country project”

After the announcement, Ana Botella “was convinced that this time we have the winning project”. The Mayor stated that “after two consecutive attempts, and considering the world economic situation, now more than ever we believe that organizing the Games is a strategic project for the country that will contribute to the social and economic development by attracting investment, promoting tourism. The image of Madrid and Spain will be reinforced with the result of a generation of wealth among all of us”.

Alejandro Blanco emphasized the qualities of the project. “The remarkable quality of the bid was highly evaluated by the Executive Board. The shortcut has provided us with an objective assessment of the other bids, but now we are at the beginning of a new period, which is the most encouraging – we will take a look around and try to beat our rivals in a long race until September”.

A catalyst to boost economic development

In this race, Madrid 2020 will be supported by the Ministry for Sport. “We must tell the world Madrid is the best place to organize the Games”, stated Miguel Cardenal, while confirming the benefits of hosting the Olympics. “The challenges we are facing are not whether if we can do it or not, but how the investments we have to do will help to the economic recovery. We have the formula”.

Víctor Sánchez supports this theory. “Sport is a boost for the economy. In addition, Madrid has the legacy of the two previous bids. The IOC members have appreciated that this project which has always been solid, has certainly improved over the years”.

“We have done a good job, and it certainly deserves a good rating”, added Zabell.

For further inquiries, please contact:
Sandra Serrano
International Communications Department
Madrid 2020 Bid Committee
Phone: +34 91 1922020 /
Mobile: + 34 548041227
aserrano@madrid2020.es
www.madrid.es
www.facebook.com/madrid2020
@madrid2020Es

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