Turkish Prime Minister to Lead Istanbul 2020 Delegation in Buenos Aires

The Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has been confirmed as the head of the Istanbul 2020 delegation for the 125^th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires.

Prime Minister Erdo?an will fly direct from the G20 conference in St. Petersburg with Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey for Economic and Financial Affairs, health Ali Babacan; the Minister for Youth and Sport, store Suat K?l?ç; and the Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topba?.

Istanbul’s 2020 Bid Committee will be led by IOC member and President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee and World Archery Federation, Professor U?ur Erdener, and Istanbul 2020 Bid Chairman, Hasan Arat.

The delegation will also include Istanbul 2020 CEO, Ali Kiremitçio?lu; Istanbul 2020 Sports Director, Alp Berker; Turkish NOC Secretary General, Ne?e Gündo?an; Paralympian, archer and Istanbul 2020 Ambassador, Gizem Giri?men; and Ça?la Büyükakçay, Turkey’s number one female tennis player.

Speaking from the Istanbul 2020 ‘Olympic training camp’ in Buenos Aires, Hasan Arat said: “We are delighted that we will have the Prime Minister and other senior Turkish government officials with us in Buenos Aires. Istanbul 2020 has enjoyed full government support from the very moment the Prime Minister personally launched our bid over two years ago. So it is fitting that he will be here with us as our campaign to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Turkey for the first time comes to its conclusion.

“For over twenty years, the Turkish nation has harboured a dream to bring the Games to the country. We hope that 7 September will soon be celebrated as the historic day that we were given the honour of realising our dream.”