(ATR) Andres Botero tells Around the Rings his home city of Medellin is "a perfect fit" for the IOC.
"What we want is to have the 2018 Youth Olympic Games as the event," he says, suggesting rival candidates Glasgow and Buenos Aires may view the YOG as a "stepping stone" towards bigger prizes.
"Medellin is a city that cannot in 50 years organize the Summer Games but has the ability and the resources to organize excellent Youth Olympic Games."
Botero, an IOC member and minister of sport, says all of Colombia is thrilled after surviving last week’s shortlist from the IOC Executive Board, a cut that claimed bids from Guadalajara and Rotterdam.
"We are very happy from the president all the way down to the 37 million Colombians," he says.
"We’ve worked very hard for so many months, we managed to go through the cut, and now we have to work hard to convince our IOC members that Medellin is the best option."
After hosting the 2010 South American Games, which Botero says Brazilian colleague Carlos Nuzman called the best in history, Medellin seeks a larger stage upon which to share its success story.
In bid documents delivered to the IOC last October – and comments made to ATR this week – the city doesn’t shy away from its troubled past with late drug lord Pablo Escobar.
"Fifteen years ago, maybe, we were one of the most unsafe cities in the world," admits Botero.
"Today, similar to other cities in Latin America, we do have problems, but you can see the conclusions of the IOC saying that after analyzing all the details of security in Medellin and Colombia, Medellin is a completely safe place to stage the Youth Olympic Games."
He also stresses the role of sport in this makeover. Colombia’s record eight Olympic medalists from London 2012 include BMX champion and Medellin native Mariana Pajón.
"The social change that has occurred in the last 10 years, sport has a lot to do with it," he says.
"The government has set up a lot of sporting programs in the poorest areas of the city, and through that, we have really changed the city."
Colombia, he claims, is one of the strongest economies in South America with foreign investment pouring in – "a strong country with a strong city" in Medellin.
According to Botero, the city also offers great hospitality, friendly people and excellent weather with an average temperature of between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius in July and August.
"I think it fits all the requirements the IOC has for the YOG," he tells ATR.
"The whole city and the whole country is supporting the Games, and we are ready to welcome the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. That’s our dream."
Following last week’s shortlist, the three candidates now face further assessment about the specifics of their bid books.Video conferences between the cities and IOC are scheduled for April. An evaluation report will then be submitted to IOC members, who will elect the host city at an upcoming meeting in Lausanne.
"We thank the IOC for taking Medellin into consideration," says Botero, "and we must wait for the final decision on July 4."
Written by Matthew Grayson
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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