BUENOS AIRES: The three cities bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympics — Madrid, Istanbul and Tokyo — on Saturday delivered their final presentations ahead of the expected tight vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For the three cities this was a final chance to woo the IOC members with a 45-minute presentation followed by the first round of voting.
The verdict after one of the closest contests in Olympic history is expected to be announced by IOC President Jacques Rogge from Buenos Aires at around 2000GMT.
First to take to the stage were Istanbul, seeking to bring the Games for the first time to a predominantly Muslim country,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan told his IOC ‘judges’ that were Istanbul chosen it would send out a powerful message to the Middle East region, which he said is in desperate need of peace.
Erdogan, who has been at the forefront of moves to punish neighbour Syria for allegedly using chemical weapons on its people, told IOC delegates in his native tongue: “We live at a time when our region and the world wish for peace and at this critical moment we would like to send a strong message of peace to the world from Istanbul.
“I would like to point out that giving the Games to a country where the population is predominantly Muslim would send out a powerful message, to our region especially, which is in desperate need of peace.”
Pressed on this by Prince Albert of Monaco in the question session afterwards, Erdogan delivered a firm reply.
“There is a quest for peace in our region and I see the Olympic Rings as being a powerful partner for that, symbolising peace, friendship and partnership.”
Next on to the stage was Tokyo, the 1964 host.
Tokyo’s bid this week has been dogged by questions over the safety of the Fukushima plant — damaged in the tsunami and earthquake which hit the north east of Japan in 2011 — as more stories emanated about contaminated water leaking into the Pacific Ocean.
But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had flown in from the G20 Summit in Russia, assured IOC members the situation regarding the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant was under control.
The 58-year-old, in an assured and polished performance speaking in English, left no doubt that he and his government had the situation under control.
“Fukushima, let me assure you the situation is under control,” he said.
“It has never done or will do any damage to Tokyo.”
Abe replied decisively when pressed by veteran Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg over Fukushima.
“You should read past the headlines and look at the facts,” he said.
Abe added: “Today under the blue sky of Fukushima there are young boys playing football and looking into the future and not the past.”
Madrid were the last to put their case, before the IOC began deliberating on which city was to take over the Olympic baton from 2016 host Rio de Janeiro.
Madrid looked to have gained a slight, late edge over its two rivals and has shown remarkable resilience throughout the race, battling to convince members it could host the Games despite the dire state of the Spanish economy.
The Madrid bid has made much of the fact it already has 28 of the 35 venues built — honouring promises made in the previous failed bids — and all the infrastructure in place.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who had also been attending the G20 summit in Russia, told his attentive audience: “Madrid offers a safe, solid and reliable bid as the IOC Evaluation Commission said.
“Our organisation and finance are unquestionable, Madrid has and always will keep its promises.
“It is probably the most reasonable financial Olympic bid in history. Most of the required investment has been made and what little remains is guaranteed by the Government.
“It carries no risk whatsoever to the Olympic Movement but numbers don’t lie….
“We are on the road to recovery and our level of surplus has not been seen since the mid 80s.”
Crown Prince Felipe, the heir to the Spanish throne, rounded off a presentation that mixed dry economics with star quality.
“After the 1992 Games Spain was bursting with pride, the future looked golden,” said the former Olympian and Spanish team flagbearer at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
“We felt that Spain was something good for the world and that Spain was moving forward.
“We need the Games for now as well as for the future.”
Earlier Saturday, Rogge, presiding over his final IOC Session, had got things underway with a brief speech to the 103 members present, of which 97 are eligible to vote in the first round — members from the bid cities being ineligible.
LIVE REPORT: Count-down for Olympic 2020 Host
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