TURKEY'S BID TO HOST THE OLYMPICS 2020
Hasan Arat, chair of the İstanbul 2020 Bid Committee, has said there is overwhelming domestic support for İstanbul's bid for the 2020 Olympics, adding that the committee will continue to determinedly promote its bid until the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote on Sept. 7.
Turkish officials went to London on Thursday to share in the anniversary celebrations of the 2012 Olympics and promote their bid, which is in the final weeks of the race against Madrid and Tokyo. Holding a press conference in London, Arat said İstanbul's bid for the Olympic games enjoys overwhelming domestic support and is picking up momentum ahead of the Sept. 7 IOC vote in Buenos Aires.
Arat said: "We are concentrating on our technical excellence. We feel the last 45 days will be very important for us and we will work a lot. It's like a final game. We will go in it to win it. That's why we feel very strong right now."
The three bid cities made technical presentations to the IOC members in Lausanne, Switzerland, earlier this month and will make their final presentations on the day of the vote. In the meantime, bid officials will be traveling to the world swimming championships in Barcelona, the world athletics championships in Moscow next month and other events.
"I don't want to comment on the others, but İstanbul is really picking up after Lausanne," Arat said, adding: "Now we are doing really very well. I can feel that from the Olympic world."
Arat highlighted that public support for the Olympic bid has risen to 94 percent among İstanbul residents.
The 94 percent support level is significantly higher than the 83 percent figure recorded in a poll carried out earlier this year by the IOC. That was already the highest support among the three bid cities, with 76 percent for Madrid and 70 percent for Tokyo. "The support is very strong and remaining positive," Arat said. "We have the highest results from the IOC poll. It will increase more before Buenos Aires."