Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced in a televised speech Istanbul’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

“We are here today to declare to the world our candidacy for the 2020 Olympic Games, which we consider extremely important for our country and people,” turkish PM Erdogan stated at the press conference on Saturday.

“Our candidature to host the Olympics stemmed from our realization in the great importance of sports value and olympic spirit, which we believe play an active role in maintaining peace everywhere in the world,” he delivered.

Turkey’s Fifth Olympic Attempt – 2020 Summer Games

Erdogan stated Turkey’s relative economic success and lessons learned from its previous failed bids (in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012) made the city a strong contender.

Erdogan said in a televised speech, “we are here today to declare to the world our candidacy for the 2020 Olympic Games which we consider extremely important for Turkey and turkish people. We bid because we deem extremely important the sporting values and Olympics spirit that have made a great contribution in establishing peace in the world”.

He added, “we are excited because this time we sincerely believe that we will attain our goal. We successfully emerged from the global crisis. Turkey is one of the fastest growing economies….We have invested in sports and will continue to do so”.

Istanbul has built state of the art stadiums for Olympic Games

Erdogan stated since its first bid Turkey has built state of the art stadiums and sports centres in Istanbul, and has taken steps to alleviate Istanbul’s traffic congestion problem – the city’s major problem.

He announced, “we had several deficiencies but Istanbul is now a city that has overcome these deficiences”, citing new light rail networks and other infrastructure.

Turkish Pm Erdogan : Turkey invests for 2020 Olympic Games

Pm Erdogan said his government would legislate special laws dedicated to Olympic Games to speed up the investments and tenders that would be necessary for Turkey to get ready for the organization.

The Anatolia news agency quotes Erdogan saying, “we can say that the infrastructure (of the city) is ready and about the superstructure we can finish those investments quickly and easily”.

AFP reports Turkey completed the construction of Istanbul Ataturk Olympics Stadium in 2002 that has a capacity of about 75,000. The stadium is in compliance with international standards of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and football and athletics federations. Istanbul Ataturk Olympics Stadium will also get a roof .

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is completing the necessary investments for athletics and tennis, while the railroad systems are being constructed to provide transportation for newly built sports facilities.

The IOC is selecting the host city for the 2020 Summer Games in 2013

Istanbul is the world’s only city on two continents that has been a crossroads of trade, culture, learning and art for over 3,000 years as well as the capital of three of the greatest empires the world has known. It is no accident that Istanbul was the city the Eastern Roman emperors, the Byzantine dynasty and the Ottoman sultans chose to call home.

Istanbul offers Culture, Accessibility and Beauty

Istanbul offers a unique combination of accessibility, variety and natural beauty. And to that natural beauty, those empires added their own artistic and architectural masterpieces, making Istanbul one of the world’s great cultural treasure houses.

“Symbol of Olympics; peace and well-being flame has been kept burning at our lands and especially in Istanbul for many centuries and enlightened the history. Therefore we say that Turkey is a country of Olympics and Olympic flame will look good at our country” added Mr. Erdogan.

Erdogan announced that Istanbul will host World Wrestling Championship next month. He also informed that Istanbul, which hosts World Tennis Championships three years in a row, will host World Indoor Athletics Championships, FINA Short Course Swimming World Championships, World Golf Championships in 2012. 2013 Mediterranean Games, and 2014 FIBA World Basketball Championship for Women will also held in Turkey, announced Mr. Erdogan.

Istanbul will be competing against Rome, Madrid, Tokyo and maybe Doha for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee has begun the selection process for the host city. Bids are due by September 1, 2011. The host city will be elected in Buenos Aires on September 7, 2013 at the 125th IOC Session.

 

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