Istanbul; 27 March 2013: Istanbul 2020 today announced it will halve the standard transition time between Games phases at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, underlining the city’s focus on Paralympic integration.
Should Istanbul be awarded the Games, the traditional changeover time of 7-10 days between the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be cut to just five. The news comes on the fourth day of the IOC Evaluation Commission’s visit to assess Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The integrated schedule is founded in Istanbul 2020’s commitment to providing Paralympic athletes with a parallel experience to their Olympic counterparts. On the ground this means both Games will be held in the same venues, with no additional competition locations required for the Paralympic Games. On top of sharing venues, only minimal refitting of stadia and the Olympic Village is needed – permitting a five-day turnaround.
The Istanbul 2020 panel who made the announcement included Paralympic archer Gizem Girişmen, a member of Turkey’s largest ever Paralympic team at London 2012, and the Director of Paralympic Integration at London 2012, Chris Holmes.
Girişmen, who also won gold in the women’s individual recurve W1/W2 at Beijing 2008, commented:
"Turkey is at the crossroads of Europe, Western Asia and the Middle East. In Istanbul hosting the Games, Turkey has a great opportunity to influence and inspire a vast region.
"Istanbul 2020 is focusing on every element of the athlete experience. This will allow the Paralympians of the world to focus one hundred percent on having the performances of their lives.
"As one of the IPC Athlete Council members, I believe that the Istanbul 2020 Games are an opportunity for raising awareness, changing attitudes, and enhancing the shared Olympic and Paralympic values."
There are currently 8.5 million Turkish people living with a disability. With Turkey having enjoyed its best ever Paralympic Games performance in 2012, Istanbul 2020’s focus is on reinforcing disabled people’s place in the city, the country and the region by delivering an inclusive and accessible Games for all.
To this aim, Istanbul 2020 has based its Paralympic integration model on London 2012, which was successfully led by Holmes, a former Paralympian himself.
Holmes, a consultant for Istanbul 2020, said:
"I believe this bid offers such incredible potential to transform a nation and a region. We will bridge together the world’s Paralympians in twelve days of sensational sport. Sport that is superbly and innovatively presented in iconic venues and spectacular backdrops.
"The Istanbul 2020 Paralympic Games will be where diversity meets inclusion, where potential meets the possible, and where Paralympians stand tall across two Continents and inspire the world."
For more information please contact: the Istanbul 2020 media team
media@istanbul2020.com.tr
Alternatively, find us online at www.istanbul2020.com.tr
on Twitter: @2020_istanbul
or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Istanbul2020
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