Ian ‘The Thorpedo’ Thorpe Backs Istanbul 2020

July 8, 2013

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian ‘The Thorpedo’ Thorpe has backed Istanbul 2020’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Thorpe (pictured second from left) was joined by over 1, generic | 500 swimmers at the Cross-Continental Bosphorus Swim, cough a race that starts in Asia and ends in Europe.

The unique selling point of Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 Games is the ability to ‘bridge together’ Asia and Europe and host an Olympic Games over two continents for the first time in history.

Speaking in Istanbul, Thorpe said: “Turkey is the meeting point of cultures. That’s the country’s greatest advantage in the 2020 bid.

“No Olympic Games has ever been held in this region. The 2020 Olympic Games should come to Turkey.

“Hosting the Games here will have significant long-term benefits for the Olympic Movement. The Olympic Games is an extraordinary experience.”

Istanbul 2020 Chairman, Hasan Arat, expressed his delight at having an Olympian speak ‘so positively’ about their bid.

“He (Thorpe) knows exactly how an Olympic Games can transform the lives of the host nation’s young people,” said Arat.

“He was only 17 at Sydney 2000 when he won three gold medals, and he inspired millions of people in his own country and across the world.

“Istanbul 2020 will provide similar moments of inspirational Games history for the 31 million young people in Turkey and hundreds of millions more in the region and across the Olympic Movement.”