IFEMA, the name of the fair Madrid has successfully held for 25 years, has welcomed more than 55 million visitors since its inception.
Madrid’s 2012 bid committee hopes the success of a large-scale event will reflect favourably on Madrid’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
To further boost its 2012 bid, 2,500 new parking spaces will be created beginning the end of June. Also, planning permission has been given for the extension of the fairground enclosure which should be completed by September 2006.
One hundred million euros will be invested so that two more pavilions can be built. The main press centre and the International Broadcasting Centre will be located in these pavilions. There are suggestions that the other pavilions will be used for boxing, fencing taekwondo, judo, weight lifting, badminton, table tennis, wrestling and gymnastics should Madrid host the 2012 Games.
The site is set to become a strategic point because of its proximity to the airport, Olympic Village and some of the main facilities of Madrid’s 2012 bid such as the Aquatic Centre.
