With the help of such medium as Rihanna's hit single "Diamonds" and hard economics, bid officials for Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid yesterday made their pitch to host the 2020 Olympics to the International Olympic Committee as the race enters the final stretch.
It was the culmination of almost two years of campaigning for those three cities. The IOC will issue a crucial evaluation report on June 25 and elect the winner in September.
Istanbul, bidding for the fifth time in the last six editions, highlighted its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia as it attempts to become the first city from a Muslim nation to host the Games.
"I can assure you hosting the Games is part of a broad agenda for Turkey," said Suat Kilic, Turkey's Sports Minister pointing to his country's sharp economic growth in the past few years. "We now have the financial strength to host the Games."
Tokyo, making its second consecutive attempt having failed to land the 2016 Olympics, played up its own economic strength as a safe Olympic destination. "I understand many people are saying that our bid is the safe option," said Tokyo governor Naoki Inose. "What I don't understand is why some seem to think this could be a bad thing."
A hosting fund of $4.5b has already been set aside by those in charge of Tokyo's bid to help lure the summer Olympics back to Asia for the first time since Beijing in 2008. "This is cash in the bank. Ready right now to pay for all new permanent venues and infrastructure," he said.
Madrid officials were also eager to convince the IOC of the country's financial clout despite the ongoing recession and a 27% unemployment rate. "Spain has the largest growth potential in the next decade among the five most important economies in Europe," said Jaime Garcia-Legaz, Spanish State Secretary for Trade. "The fundamentals of the Spanish economy are strong and deep."
They also highlighted the city's minimum venue construction needs and low budget, with Madrid's three consecutive Olympic bids having transformed the city into a Games blueprint. "For 15 years Madrid has been preparing," said Marisol Casado, International Triathlon Union President. "We have adapted our city to fit the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
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