IOC Set to Mark Istanbul 2020 Bid; Transport and Visa Issues

(ATR) The IOC Evaluation Commission will today give its verdict on Istanbul’s plans to host the 2020 Olympics at the end of its four-day visit.

Craig Reedie and his inspection team are in closed-door meetings Wednesday morning hearing presentations from Istanbul officials on the themes of Paralympics, security and environment.

Reedie and Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli will offer their assessment of the Turkish bid at a press conference later today that wraps up the IOC’s visit. It will be followed by an Istanbul 2020 briefing.

The signs are good for Istanbul after a glitch-free inspection during which the Evaluation Commission examined all 14 themes of the bid book. Fears over traffic congestion, one of Istanbul’s key challenges, were not borne out on the venue tours.

A short traffic jam delayed media buses en route from the European to the Asian side of the city on Tuesday. But the snarl-up in the Bosphorus Zone didn’t knock the schedule too much – the journey took around 40 minutes. Without congestion, it would take half that.

Journalists and broadcast crews intersected with the IOC delegation at the 14,000-seat arena that is home to Fenerbahçe’s men’s and women’s basketball team. Reedie was presented with a signed shirt from some of the team.

Designed by the architects behind LA’s Staples Center, the arena is built to NBA specifications and operated by AEG. The multisports arena opened last year; musicians including Leonard Cohen and Jennifer Lopez have already played the venue.

In a briefing at the arena, Emir Turam, Istanbul’s communications advisor, made a point of introducing media with the line: "I have great pleasure in saying welcome to Asia."

He went on to describe the arena, which would host volleyball in 2020, as the "jewel in the crown of an urban redevelopment project".

"This shows the world-class standard of excellence Istanbul is capable of. It is the same world-class standards we can expected at every new venue for 2020," he emphasized.

A small group of international journalists including Around the RingsEditor Ed Hula were then invited to check out the newly built tunnel under the Bosphorus. The vehicle tunnel is 60 meters underground.

The IOC also examined other components of Istanbul’s Port cluster venue plans from the vantage point of the old train station, a magnificent piece of architecture built in 1872. Views from the fourth floor of the building that is earmarked to be turned into a hotel offered an idea of where facilities for rowing and canoe-kayak, and beach volleyball would be staged at the Olympics.

"This special setting will create defining Olympic moments. Pictures from the Port cluster will capture the imagination of the world in 2020," Turam said.

Thursday night, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a gala dinner for the IOC Evaluation Commission.Sports minister Suat Kılıç Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş, bid leaders and Turkish Olympians and Paralympians attended the event at Esma Sultan Palace

Displays of architectural renderings in the building showed the venue designs. Unique to Istanbul’s bid is a 70,000-seat stadium with views out to the Bosphorus that is slated only for the opening and closing ceremonies and marathon. In legacy mode, it would be downsized to 20,000 seats and used as a multisports venue.

Turam explained that with plans to accommodate 500,000 people on the Asian banks of the Bosphorus and a similar number on the European side it would create the "biggest live audience in Olympic history" for the ceremonies.

Turam said the Port site provided a spectacular backdrop for all the sports it would host. "When we showed plans to the international federations, they just loved it," he said.

After Horse Guards Parade in London and Copacabana beach for Rio 2016, he admitted Istanbul had "tough acts to follow" in its presentation of beach volleyball. "We have a location that is just as iconic," he insisted.

On Tuesday, the 14-member IOC panel heard presentations on the themes of accommodation, transport and media operations.

Turkey's culture and tourism minister Omer Celik and Feza Solaklar, head of accommodations, were rolled out for a media briefing.

Celik was questioned about the strict visa system which slows the flow of foreign visitors at the border entry points. He was asked if visas would be waived for the 2020 Games.

"We would like to have a more fluent process for visa application and we will take additional measures of course. But so far we haven’t decided on any clear strategy," he answered.

Head of Games transport directorate Muzaffer Hacimustafaoglu told media about the 105km Olympic lane system, saying that transportation during Games time would be free to all ticket holders to competitions.

He was less clear on how Istanbul would reduce traffic congestion to ensure smooth travel for athletes, the Olympic Family, media and spectators.

"We are investing heavily in public transport systems, rail and other mass rapid transport which will be another plus for us during Games time," he said, adding that the government and Games organizers would promote public transport and bring in special charges during peak congestion times to ease traffic flows.

Turam gave an overview of media operations for the Games to reporters at the news conference.

The director of international relations at the Turkish basketball federationconfirmed that journalists would be offered free access to the Games information system and free Wi-fi at all media working platforms.

Reported by Mark Bisson.

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