IOC Can Make History by Voting Istanbul 2020 says Bid President

The President of the Istanbul 2020 Olympic Games bid believes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) can make a historic decision by electing his city during the voting session in September.

Istanbul face competition from Madrid and Tokyo in their bid to host the 2020 Games, sale and the IOC will make their vote at the 125^th Session in Buenos Aires.

If Istanbul is selected, it will mark the first time the Olympics have been held in a predominantly Muslim nation and on two continents.

Istanbul 2020 President Hasan Arat said: “The Olympic Movement can open the door to a new culture.

“It can bridge Olympic culture to new culture. A new bridge to historical impact, with 8000 years of history the Olympic Movement is not just giving the Olympic Games to a city – they (the IOC) would be giving hope, trust and peace to a region.”

Arat went on to talk about the impact the Games would have on the young people of Turkey.

“It is very important for my country and for the region (the Middle East, the Gulf and Central Asia),” he said. “The region will be affected, as 50 percent of people are under 25 years of age.

“In the region, look at our neighbours: 400 million in the age group! Now this Games is so important for their future and lives, creating role models. “The Olympic Movement can create history now. In this region there has never been an Olympic Games before.”