Istanbul 2020: Seven Years Before the Istanbul 2020 Opening Ceremony

City-wide activation

 

 

Istanbul 2020 would take the concept of city activation to another level. A series of live sites have already been identified on both the European and Asian sides of the city, with a combined capacity of half a million spectators. They would be fully integrated with the celebrations inside the stadium via live video link-up, complementary performances, light shows, fireworks displays and a direct view of the Bosphorus Stadium. Together, the 500,000 on the banks of the Bosphorus and the 70,000 in the stadium – including 10,000 athletes – would create the largest live audience in Olympic history.

A global audience captivated

Like the rest of Istanbul 2020’s Games concept, the ceremonies have been carefully formulated to maximise the visual impact of the city’s stunning natural and architectural beauty. As well as the main IBC/MPC in the Olympic Park, a supplementary broadcasting hub will be positioned in the heart of Istanbul’s historic centre, looking out over the Bosphorus towards the Asian side of the city and the Bosphorus Stadium. Istanbul 2020 can guarantee cinematic moments of Olympic history that capture the imagination of a global audience of billions.

A transformative impact on the city

The Bosphorus Stadium and the rest of the Port Cluster fit perfectly with the government’s long-term vision for the development of the city, as part of Istanbul’s most exciting regeneration project – one to rival Barcelona’s opening up the Mediterranean coast for the 1992 Games. Just like Barcelona, the redevelopment of Haydarpasa Port will reclaim the waterfront for the people of Istanbul, transforming an outdated industrial area into a state-of-the-art, 58-hectare sports, leisure and entertainment complex. The complex will feature parks, plazas and promenades, cafés, remediated green spaces and a breakwater walkway. The Bosphorus Stadium itself will have its capacity reduced to around 20,000 and will become a much needed entertainment venue.

This visionary project is already underway, but hosting the Games would accelerate it dramatically and unlock billions of investment dollars through redevelopment and privatisation – enough, in fact, to pay for the entire cost of Games sports infrastructure.