Madrid 2012 “Golden” Bid Gets Public Support

Madrid 2012’s bid book was wrapped in gold to symbolize the colour of victory and covered with the slogan “You’ll Like It” in 25 languages.

Isidro Rigau, the bid book coordinator, said that the reason why the box that contains the book is golden is that “it is a winning colour”. He also said “Madrid is the only candidate city whose project makes it possible for the sportsmen to go walking to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies from the Olympic Village to the Olympic Stadium”.

Feliciano Mayoral, head of the bid, said the bid has been improved in three areas that didn’t receive top marks in its last bid – security, accommodation and sporting experience.

Support from 90 per cent of city residents and all major political parties is one of the bid’s strengths, reports the BBC.

The bid book shows that six sports have changed their venues. The basketball competition will be played at the Rockodroma Arena, both the gymnastics disciplines will take place at the Olympic Pavilion, hockey will be held at the Club de Campo, Beach Volleyball at IFEMA, the canoe-kayak slalom will be moved to the Gavia Park, and the La Elipa baseball field will be the sub-venue for baseball.

Madrid’s Mayor and Madrid 2012 officials visited the Crown Prince of Spain and his wife at the Zarzuela Palace to show them the bid book. The royal family has expressed its full support of the bid since Madrid’s candidacy was made public.

Madrid officials believe the experience gained from dealing with terrorist train bombings will convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC) it can safely host the 2012 Games.

Security for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky said about 30,000 officers would be deployed for the Games if Madrid were the host city. Without giving details he said the money being set aside for security was more than that allotted to sporting events.

Deputy Mayor Manuel Cobo said Madrid’s trump card was its plan to keep everything within reachable distance.

“The most important thing is the closeness of venues. Most of the sports, the Olympic ring, the Olympic Village, the airport and the city’s trade centre, which will host many events, will all be together practically in a radius of five kilometres.

Mayoral said Madrid also planned to exploit existing structures. “We’re not going to build any big stadiums. We’re going to use what we already have”, he said.

The Olympic Stadium will be housed in the revamped Peineta athletics arena on the city’s eastern outskirts, within 10 minutes driving distance from Barajas international airport and walking distance from the Olympic Village.

Officials also plan to use the major city centre soccer stadiums of Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid.

Madrid will be the first city visited by the IOC from February 3 to 6. Write or read comments about this article

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