POSTED: Thursday May 7th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Madrid 2016 - Structure, political and economic climate: a solid bid

Aguirre, Gallardón and Gabilondo explain the basis of the project to the Evaluation Commission

  Madrid 2016: solid bid -        Unanimous support given by institutions, politicians and citizens alike will help the bid meet every commitment without recourse future elections  -        Recent polls prove citizen support: with 92.6% of Spaniards, 90% of citizens from the Region of Madrid and 89.4% of Madrileños in favour of hosting the Games  -        In line with IOC requirements, the bid has provided the financial guarantees, necessary funding, and other institutional guarantees   Madrid, 7 May 2009 - The Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, has spoken today to members of the Evaluation Commission from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about “the security, support and stability” of Madrid’s bid. He did so accompanied by Secretary of Education, Ángel Gabilondo and the President of the Region of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre. The strength of the bid is based on pillars like the unanimous support from all levels of society, with the institutions at the front; the financial guarantees and the advanced progress of the infrastructure.  The institutional and social consensus, one of the most defining characteristics of the Madrilenian bid, is being proven during the busy visit schedule with the presence of and presentations by members of different public and private professions. That unanimous backing will be given independently to the bid regardless of future elections.  That was one of the aspects that Ángel Gabilondo stressed the most, after reiterating the support given by the Government. He declared that “an important part of Spain’s stability is found in the solid co-operation and co-ordination between administrations”. This represents an “added value for Madrid 2016 because, should it be chosen as host city, all initial groundwork would be done already”.   Consensus of all political parties, sub venue mayors and the whole society is added to the institutional agreement. The last polls revealed that 92.6% of Spaniards, 90% in the Region of Madrid and 89.4% of Madrileños are in favour of Madrid hosting the Olympic Games. Ruiz-Gallardón specifically mentioned the King “because he is the main representative of this country in foreign relations, and also for his close relationship with sport and Olympism. He even participated as an athlete in the 1972 Munich Games in the sailing competition.” Financial guaranteesFollowing the IOC’s request, the bid has presented financial guarantees, provision of funds, as well as the guarantees of other involved institutions, like the Government of Spain, the Region of Madrid, Madrid’s City Council, and the governments of the different sub venues and their regional parliaments. Other entities (AENA, IFEMA, RENFE, Puerto de Valencia, Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Spanish and Madrilenian Federations, ONCE and CERMI) have stated their approval through collaboration agreements, “because this is a project of and for everyone”, said Ruiz-Gallardón. The current economic situation doesn’t worry Madrid. Gabilondo confirmed that “we are calm because Spain, the Region of Madrid and its City Council have firm foundations that have been strengthened through years of prosperous economy”. The selection of Madrid would be a further incentive “to the proposed measures to stimulate the economy and the different sectors of activity”. Esperanza Aguirre spoke of the city’s position as an economic leader in relation to other Spanish cities. “The City of Madrid,” she explained, “isn’t only the official capital city of this country; it is also part of the region that constitutes the driving force behind Spain’s economy. This is the main factor that will help us continue with our economic model, as well as consolidate our position as a financial and business centre”. To reinforce this she quoted Madrid’s GDP per capita for the last ten years as having “increased by 11.5% to 12% that of the rest of the country. If we examine the data of the income per capita, we can also see Madrid’s authority here: it is 40% above the national average”.  The capacity for integrating the constant migratory flow received by Madrid, the existence of public services that guarantee “effectiveness of solidarity” and the “avant-garde infrastructures,” are other aspects that the regional president remarked on to demonstrate the reliability of Madrid’s bid. “Today we believe that Madrid has the necessary infrastructure to guarantee the required organization of an event of the magnitude of the Olympic Games,” stated Aguirre. “We are already prepared, not least taking into account that in 2016 we will be in an even better position”.  Political bet“Politics, economy and sport,” said Gabilondo, “are three concepts that are interrelated because politic stability goes hand in hand with a consolidated and developed economy, and both have an impact on sport”. Exactly in this area is where Spain is living a “sweet moment” with Rafael Nadal at the top of the tennis world, our basketball team as world champions, European runners-up and silver at the Beijing Olympics, and the triumphs of Alonso in F1 as well as Spanish cyclists. These facts “are the consequence of the strong foundations that have been laid out year after year, with great implications for different institutions”. If Madrid were to become host, “it would prove to be a further boost to continue working and shaping a future generation of high level athletes”.  Bid CommitteeRuiz-Gallardón explained Madrid 2016’s committee configuration and structure that represents Madrid and Spain’s different social and institutional forces. This organization is structured via three main pillars: -        Madrid 16 Foundation: gathers together representatives from political parties and public office, as well as members of the Spanish Olympic Movement-        Madrid 16 Society: the office that manages the day-to-day running of the bid that is made up of the following departments: Corporate Services, Operations, Foreign Relations, Marketing and Communications, Sport and Paralympics and Environment-        Seven commissions: Legacy, Athletes, Sports Technique, Paralympics, Environment and Sustainability, Culture and Media “This support,” stated the Mayor, “joined with the passion for sport shown by citizens at every opportunity, as spectators or participants in organized events like the San Silvestre race or Sport Day, is another of the guarantees presented by the bid to arrive at that dream of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games”.  - ENDS –  For further information please call Malcolm Munro on + 44 7795013006 www.madrid2016.es   “STRUCTURE, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CLIMATE” IntroductionAlberto Ruiz-Gallardón, Mayor of Madrid PresentersEsperanza Aguirre, President of the Region of MadridÁngel Gabilondo, Education Secretary 

# # #

Keywords · Madrid 2016 · IOC · Olympic bid

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

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.