Hasan Arat, a leading member of Istanbul 2020, confirmed Tuesday that the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games remain priority number one for Turkey and its government.
Arat is a member of the Istanbul 2020 delegation attending the SportAccord Conference in Quebec City, Canada.
Arat said, “for Turkey, hosting the Games has always been the ultimate prize. Every level of government is right behind us, from the Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right through to the municipal authorities. We have the full support of the sports and business communities, and we have 87 per cent public support – the people of Turkey want the Games. Turkey has never been more serious about hosting the Games, and we have never been more ready to host the Games.
“It is an exciting time for our country – we have had a decade of remarkable economic and social development, and now we are better placed than ever to realize our Olympic dream. The time is right for Istanbul 2020 in this campaign – we are in it to win it”.
Professor Ugur Erdener, IOC member, President of World Archery and President of the Turkish NOC, who is also a member of the delegation, added, “this is Istanbul’s fourth bid, but the first time we have had the capacity to match our aspiration. Istanbul 2020 is the culmination of 20 years years’ bidding experience. Turkey has hosted more than 20 major sports events since 2004 and we have been learning and improving every step of the way. Now we have created a new, dramatically enhanced Games concept. We believe it meets the Olympic family’s most pressing needs and priorities, and unites Turkey’s designs for the future with the potential of our young, dynamic and ambitious population”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make its Candidate City announcement at the conference on Wednesday.
