Madrid´s Mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, the Ministry for Education and Science, María Jesús San Segundo, the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), José María Echevarría, and the President-Chief Executive of Madrid 2012, Feliciano Mayoral, presented the main points for Madrid´s Olympic Project to the international press covering the Games in Athens. The Mayor maintained that Madrid ‘wants, can and asks to’ organize the 2012 Games. ‘We have an amazing project supported by the citizens, business community and political parties alike.

‘It is a compact, ambitious, modern and perfectly feasible plan, with a vast public transportation system, respect for the environmental and sustainable development which will provide the city with a legacy of top-level sport facilities for future generations,’ said Ruiz-Gallardón. ‘Since 1896, the year when the modern Olympic Games were opened for the first time, Madrid has never had the opportunity to organize them, despite it being one of the world’s biggest capital cities. We now have this opportunity. If our wishes and expectations are fulfilled Madrid will be from 10th to 26th August 2012, the glass through which the world will see the great changes that Spain has undergone in the last few decades,’ he added.

Points that were highlighted include:

70% of the infrastructure is already finished.
The Olympic City will be 20 minutes walk from the Olympic Stadium for 25 sports.
The Olympic City is located 10 minutes from the city centre and 5 from the airport.
82% of the venues will be connected by underground, railway or bus.
Quantity and quality of hotel offering set to improve. 70,000 hotel beds will be of offer in 2012.
A High Committee for Olympic Security has been created, responsible for planning, coordinating and managing the operation to protect citizens.

The Ministry for Education and Science, highlighted during her speech the total support of the Spanish Government for the candidature of Madrid, and that, as in Barcelona’92, Madrid 2012 will host a ‘Spanish Games.’ ‘Spain is an open and democratic country which will welcome everyone coming to Madrid for the Games without any sort of racial, sexual or religious discrimination,’ added María Jesús San Segundo.

The President of the COE, José María Echevarría, emphasized Madrid’s experience regarding the organization of top-level sporting events and the commitment of the candidature to meet the requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Moreover, the President-Chief Executive Officer of Madrid 2012, Feliciano Mayoral, added that the project will take place in three areas of the city. Palma de Mallorca will host the Sailing competition and Barcelona, Alicante, Córdoba and Málaga will host the football tournaments.

For more details contact:

Press Office
Madrid 2012
34 – 917 40 12 12
prensa@madrid2012.es