POSTED: September 29th 2009
NewsUpdate
Why Madrid for 2016 Olympics?
MADRID, Sept. 29: The vote for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been years in the making. Hundreds of people from the four bid teams have travelled all over the world promoting their bids and cities. There is, in this final week, a sense of the last lap and the consolidation of each bid’s substance. All four cities have been proved competent, confident, capable and keen. On October 2, the teams will make their final pitches to the International Olympic Committee members, filling Copenhagen with passion, emotion and promise.
In one of the closest races in Olympic history, every city has, at one point or another, been considered the most suitable or likely candidate to win. Madrid, bidding against Rio, Chicago and Tokyo, is currently viewed as one of the most accomplished and deserving candidate cities, with an outstanding technical bid and a city buzzing with summer sun and fun.
“Madrid is the safest, most secure bid,” says Madrid 2016 CEO Mercedes Coghen. “We believe that this also makes us the most fun – financial and physical security gives everyone the freedom to relax and take advantage of Madrid’s 24 hour fiesta atmosphere. As the Games with the Human Touch we want the Olympics to touch everyone, bringing the benefits of sport and Olympic values of friendship, fair play, respect and equality to people of every age, gender, nationality and ability around the world. This is what the Olympic movement stands for. We feel that we are in the best position to deliver this to the Olympic family and the people of the world. We believe that Madrid is the best choice to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Venues
77% of Madrid’s venues are currently built or under construction. Many are already in use and have been described as “spectacular” and “fantastic” by leading international sports stars such as Rafael Nadal. The Magic Box tennis venue held the inaugural Madrid Tennis Masters in May 2009 to great international acclaim. “Not only did the IOC praise our venues when they visited in May, but all city infrastructure is in place”, adds Mercedes. “We have hosted 250 international sporting events in the past ten years and all our hotels and transport are ready. We would be ready to host the 2012 Games if asked!”
Finances
Madrid’s bid has total financial guarantee from all levels of government. 68 corporate sponsors back the bid and little construction on venues or infrastructure needs to be paid for. This forms part of the basis for the city’s claim to be the ‘safest choice’.
Support
“Madrid is one of the most well supported bids in Olympic history,” states Mercedes. “Our public support figures are consistently and fantastically high, reflecting the sporting passion and enthusiasm for the Games of all Madrileños. The bid is backed by politicians at all levels, across all political parties, and Madrid’s mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, is completely dedicated to bringing the Games to Madrid.
His Majesty King Juan Carlos will accompany us to Copenhagen and Prime Minister Zapatero has taken personal responsibility for the bid within government. We have over 45, 000 volunteers from countries across the world and international sporting stars from all continents have praised our bid and spoken glowingly of our city. The people of Madrid, Spain and the world have given our bid a huge amount and we would be honoured to give them an amazing, life-changing Games as thanks for their support and passion for sport.”
Legacy
The 1992 Games in Barcelona showed that Spain has what it takes to truly capitalise on the positive benefits of the Olympic Games; Barcelona is now world-renowned as a fantastic sporting city, cultural centre and tourist destination. “We know that the legacy of Madrid can be just as strong as Barcelona. We have plans for all the venues to serve Madrid’s communities immediately after the Games and our Generation 16 programme has already started to bring the benefits of sport to people of all ages. Madrid will be a model Twenty-First Century sporting city, with Olympic values at the heart of city living. We hope to be able to use the Olympic Games to share this model with the world and demonstrate sport as a force for social transformation.
The City
Madrid itself may actually be the bid’s greatest asset. The compact city is filled with thousands of bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants, word class hotels, hundreds of shops, theatres and cinemas, extensive parks and gardens for relaxing and sunbathing, and some of the most famous art museums in the world. “Madrid is a true 24-hour fiesta city, with safe streets filled day and night with people from all over the world enjoying the hospitality of one of the greatest cities in the world,” claims the 2016 bid team. Although referred to as the Games of the Spanish-speaking world, Madrid is home to 190 nationalities, meaning that the culture shock of some world cities in generally absent in this international capital.
“Everyone is welcome in Madrid and everyone instantly feels at home,” says Mercedes. “Even if no-one speaks your language, a guaranteed smile is the best form of communication anyway!”
“We really believe that Madrid is the best choice in every way for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” concludes Mercedes Coghen. “We provide safety and security, and fiesta and fun. The city has something for absolutely everyone. We would be so honoured to welcome the Olympic & Paralympic Games and the world into Madrid, and in turn to give Madrid back to the Olympic movement and the world.”
Picture (above right): People turned out in the masses to hold colored cards and create a gigantic human mosiac of the Madrid logo / Image: Madrid 2016
Keywords · Madrid 2016 · Mercedes Coghen · Olympic bids
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