Turkish President Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Istanbul is getting
ready to become a candidate for 2020 Olympic Games, the semi-official Anatolia
news agency reported.
Gul announced this decision at the 37th general assembly meeting of the
European Olympic Committees (EOC) which has begun in the Turkish largest city of
Istanbul on the centenary of the founding of Turkey's National Olympic Committee
(TMOK).
Gul said, "We will mobilize all our capabilities to host the Olympic Games. "
"The games is one of the oldest and most important driving forces of friendly
and peaceful relations among countries and their nations," he said.
The two-day meeting at Istanbul's Hilton Exhibition Center brings together
delegations from national Olympic committees (NOCs) of Europe, numerous sports
federations, and a great number of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
members.
EOC President Patrick Hickey and Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi as well
as IOC President Jacques Rogge are among participants of the event giving the
candidate cities for the 2016Olympic Games a last opportunity to meet the
European delegates.
Turkish State Minister Murat Basesgioglu said that he was proudof hosting the
meeting on the 100th anniversary of founding of theTMOK.
During the meeting, the candidate cities for the 2016 Olympic Games (Chicago,
Tokyo, Rio de Janerio and Madrid) will make presentations to EOC officials to
lay out their plans to host the Games.
Also, Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and Sochi 2014 presentations will also be
made.
Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee President Rogge will be decorated
with an honorary doctorate degree by the Istanbul University.
Rome-based EOC brings together 49 National Olympic Committees under its roof.