Delegations from two of the 2020 Olympic bid cities – Madrid and Tokyo – presented their bids Thursday.
Madrid 2020 Bid President Alejandro Blanco and the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella, presented HRH Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, with its Candidature File.
Also attending the event were Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Marisol Casado and Jose Perurena, the three Spanish members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Spanish Secretary of State for Sport Miguel Cardenal.
After the ceremony Samaranch highlighted the Prince’s steadfast commitment to the project, adding, “we are counting on His Royal Highness and his leadership to help us complete the last stage in our race towards our Olympic dream”.
Casado said, “the Prince expressed great support, as the royal family has always done”.
Perurena added, “he is very involved in the project and excited about it. Thanks to the work everyone is putting in together, we are convince we have a winning bid”.
Meanwhile a delegation from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bid visited FIVB headquarters in Lausanne Thursday to present its proposals for volleyball and beach volleyball venues, should Tokyo host the 2020 Games.
The 15,000-seat Ariake Arena would be home to the volleyball competition while the 12,000-seat Shiokaze Park would host beach volleyball.