The team leading Madrid’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games said it is delighted that the city has been short-listed and now looks forward to putting “110 per cent” into winning outright next year.
In a media release Madrid 2016 said the bid team believes that its passion for hosting the Games, together with the many benefits the Olympics will bring to the lives of Madrid’s citizens, were important factors behind the IOC’s decision.
Mercedes Coghen, CEO of Madrid 2016 said, “we greatly admire the Olympic movement’s values and see the 2016 Games as a golden opportunity to support a modern Madrid that is successful, dynamic and an inclusive place to live, work and play”.
But Coghen stresses that the bid team still has plenty to do. “In many respects the hard work starts now. We have a lot to tackle and a great deal to learn from people around the world if we are to successfully build on the achievements of our 2012 bid and bring the Games to Madrid in 2016”.
Meanwhile, Tokyo 2016 issued a media release saying it is delighted with the IOC’s decision to select Tokyo as a 2016 Candidate City. Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO of Tokyo 2016 said, “a united Japan is delighted with today’s historic news. Prime Minister Fukuda and Governor Ishihara of Tokyo have been notified and are thrilled.
“It is too soon to have read the Applicant City report in detail, but early indications are that the IOC values our unique plan to host the 2016 Games at the very heart of the world’s biggest metropolis. The IOC also seems to believe in the legacy of the greatest urban and environmental transformation ever seen”.
He added, “now it is full steam ahead and the Japanese people. We have no time to loose in preparing the best possible Candidature File for the IOC, and have some big surprises and exciting concepts to come, starting with our press conference in Athens tonight”.
The Chicago Tribune quotes Bob Ctvrtlik, U.S. Olympic Committee vice president for international relations saying, “this is a key hurdle to have passed. Now the bid committee and the city and the USOC and the nation have to unite behind Chicago.
“We know where we are strong and we know where we are weak. We respect the analysis that has been done”.
Patrick Ryan, chairman of Chicago 2016 said, “we will take full advantage of the opportunity to spend the full time in Beijing for the Olympics and Paralympics”.
