Istanbul: A senior delegation of Istanbul 2020 bid leaders is attending the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) General Assembly in Macau this week, the latest leg of an international tour aimed at enhancing the team’s understanding of the needs and priorities of the Olympic family for hosting a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Istanbul 2020’s delegation is led by bid leader, Hasan Arat; IOC member, President of World Archery and President of the Turkish NOC, Professor Uğur Erdener; and the bid’s International Relations Director, Ayda Uluç. The delegation considers the OCA General Assembly part of an on-going fact-finding mission to build on the work of their team of Turkish and international experts back in Istanbul, which is currently fine-tuning a technically outstanding concept to underpin a visionary Games proposition.
Hasan Arat commented on the tour and the continuing development of Istanbul’s bid team:
"It is fantastic to be here and to have the opportunity to continue learning what is required to host a successful Games. We are particularly keen to hear the Asian sports community’s ideas on producing young sports leaders as this is a priority that we share with the OCA. With nearly half of Turkey’s population under the age of 25, Istanbul 2020 is committed to reigniting an entire generation’s enthusiasm for sport and the Olympic Movement, in our region and beyond. That is why we are actively involving dynamic, passionate students in our rapidly expanding Bid Committee and our Games concept. My dream continues to be to create a truly historic moment for Turkey and the Olympic Movement - one city, one Games, two continents."
Professor Uğur Erdener, who also attended the Peace and Sport International Forum in Sochi last week, commented:
"Visiting Macau for the OCA General Assembly has been an honour after a truly inspiring start to our tour in the Olympic city of Sochi. We have learnt so much and received a huge amount of valuable input. It is only by communicating with the Olympic family that Istanbul 2020 can develop a concept that will meet the needs of both the Olympic Movement and Turkey in the twenty-first century. I greatly look forward to the weeks ahead as the Istanbul 2020 senior team continues our fact-finding mission."
Following the OCA General Assembly, Hasan Arat will lead high-powered Istanbul 2020 delegations to a number of other major Olympic family events, including the European Olympic Committees General Assembly in Eilat, from 7-8 December; Doha Goals from 10-12 December; and the FINA World Swimming Championships in the bid’s home city from 12-16 December. Throughout this period the bid team will seek input from the Olympic family in order to help finalise their concept for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. This will be presented in Istanbul 2020’s Candidature File, to be submitted to the IOC in early January.
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