POSTED: Thursday May 7th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPAIN’S SPORTING PASSION CRUCIAL TO 2016 OLYMPIC SUCCESS

Almost ninety-three per cent of the Spanish population want Madrid to host the 2016 Games, according to the latest opinion poll.

 Madrid, 7 May 2009 - The passionate desire across all sections of Spanish society to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games sets Madrid 2016 apart, its bid leaders stated today. Bid CEO Mercedes Coghen believes that Spain’s obsession with sport will impress the IOC Evaluation Commission’s members as they continue their visit to Madrid. “It’s a golden age for Spanish sport, as our athletes have recently won several international titles, including the Euro 2008 football tournament, the Tour de France and the Wimbledon mens’ tennis championship,” Ms Coghen explained. “These successes have boosted support for Madrid’s bid across the entire country.” Almost ninety-three per cent of the Spanish population want Madrid to host the 2016 Games, according to the latest opinion poll. The bid enjoys support across all of Spain’s political parties and is also backed by the country’s business sector. So far, 65 organisations have agreed to sponsor Madrid 2016, including Ferrovial, Repsol, Accenture and El Corte Inglés. Within Madrid itself, 25,000 volunteers have already signed up to help in 2016 and some of these people are assisting the bid team during the IOC Technical Commission’s visit. “Madrid has hosted 200 international sporting events during the last 10 years but its citizens are hungry for more,” said Ms Coghen. “The thousands of flags and banners that are lining Madrid’s streets during the IOC’s visit demonstrate our strong desire to stage the 2016 Games.” One of Spain’s Olympic legends highlighted the nation’s passion for sport as a key factor in his successes. Manel Estiarte competed at water polo during a record six Games, from Moscow in 1980 to Sydney in 2000, winning a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. “The people of Spain not only love their sport, they live for it,” he explained. “You can see this commitment not only amongst the athletes themselves but within the thousands of people who support them. It helped me to succeed, knowing that while I was competing the people of Spain were willing me to win.” - ENDS -

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Keywords · Madrid 2016 · Olympic Bid · IOC

Name: Malcom Munro
Organization: Madrid 2016 Olympic Bid
Email:
Phone: +44 (0) 7795 013006
URL: http://www.madrid2016.es/EN/Paginas/Home.aspx

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