GamesBids.com: Madrid To Put Olympic Bid On Hold

Madrid To Put Olympic Bid On Hold
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GB Staff on Saturday, July 24, 2010  2:25pm EDT
 
Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, Mayor of Madrid, said that the city will put any bid for
an Olympic Games on hold in order to help the country with its bid for the 2018
World Cup finals.
The host for the 2018 World Cup will be announced December 2 and Gallardon said
Madrid will do everything it can to help.
Madrid failed in its attempts to host the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, losing
out to London and Rio de Janeiro.
Gallardon said, "the Spanish Football Federation behaved incredibly well towards
us in our Olympic candidacy. They directed their needs for matches to be played
around the dates that favoured the Madrid candidacy. It is not to return a
favour, it is for conviction that now all of us have to work together so that
Spain is able to organize this World Cup and after that we can start to think
about other sporting events".
Gallardon added that no decision over a third attempt to hold the Olympic Games
would be taken in the near future.
"Until the Olympic Committee gives us a time frame, I am not in condition to say
what will happen".
He said that should Spain be chosen to hold the 2018 World Cup, it would have
positive repercussions if Madrid bids for the 2020 Summer Olympics.