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Business News/ News / World/  IOC set for 2020 Summer Olympics host vote
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IOC set for 2020 Summer Olympics host vote

First round of voting shortly to choose between Madrid, Istanbul and Tokyo as the host of 2020 Summer Olympics

IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs speaks during the final presentation of the Madrid 2020 bid, during the 125th Session of the International Olympic Committee, in Buenos Aires, on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Garcia/AFP (Daniel Garcia/AFP )Premium
IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs speaks during the final presentation of the Madrid 2020 bid, during the 125th Session of the International Olympic Committee, in Buenos Aires, on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Garcia/AFP
(Daniel Garcia/AFP )

Buenos Aires: The three cities bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympics—Madrid, Istanbul and Tokyo —were delivering their final presentations on Saturday 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 from 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 their 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," he said.

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, symbolizing peace, friendship and partnership."

Next on to the stage were Tokyo, the 1964 hosts.

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 G-20 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 hosts Rio de Janeiro.

Madrid looked to have gained a slight late edge over its two rivals but will still have to overcome questions about the Spanish economy.

Madrid, though, has shown remarkable resilience throughout the race, battling to convince members they could host the Games despite the dire state of the Spanish economy.

The Spanish capital seemingly achieved that goal when the IOC Evaluation Commission gave the thumbs up to its proposed budget.

With 28 of the 35 venues already built after the failed bids for 2012 (they were third) and 2016 (runners-up) and the infrastructure in place, there is relatively little extra expenditure.

“As the additional investment required to deliver the Games is relatively modest, the Commission believes that the Spanish economy should be able to support the delivery of the Games," read the report.

This, followed by an outstanding presentation in Lausanne to the IOC members in July, handed them the momentum that announced them as potential winners.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, while Leader of the Opposition, has had to sit and grin and bear the taste of defeat through two successive Summer Games votes, and he is keen to deliver this time round.

“Life obviously revolves around material things but we are human beings also and we have feelings and for us what is most important is the people’s dreams and fulfilling them," he had said in July.

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. AFP

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Published: 07 Sep 2013, 10:11 PM IST
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