27 replies to this topic

[Mariote]

[dancingbrogues]

So the roof would be temporary?

I'm not a fan of bull-fights but this is the place where Rafa beat that skinny American in the Davis Cup right? It was an amazing venue for that, like a boiling colonaded cauldron. I'm sure it would be fantastic for a US-Spain rematch, if Madrid overcomes the competition to win the 2020 games.

[Athan]

There have been some more venue changes wih regard to the applicant file. It's all explained here: http://www.abc.es/20...1207231747.html (in Spanish).

Basketball was moved to Las Ventas bullring because it appears Real Madrid may not be building their new arena in the Campo de las Naciones cluster, so to avoid problems, the bid team reached an agreement with the city council to roof Las Ventas and host the basketball tournament there. I don't know if the roof would be temporary or permanent, it depends on what the city council decides, but from what I'm reading, I think it's likely to be permanent.

Hockey and volleyball will not be held in the Olympic Park anymore in order to use already existing venues and not to build new infrastructure. Hockey will now be held in the Campo de las Naciones cluster, right next to rugby and archery, and volleyball will be moved to the Palacio de Deportes, in the city center. The temporary venue for beach volleyball will be built in the Olympic Park instead of in the Casa de Campo cluster.

As the Palacio de Deportes is hosting volleyball now, judo and taekwondo will be moved to the IFEMA exhibition center in the Campo de las Naciones cluster, which will also host badminton, fencing, weightlifing, wrestling and table tennis. Boxing was also planned to be held here, but it's now been moved to the Palacio de Vistalegre, close to the Casa de Campo cluster.

So in the end, the only permanent venues that would need to be built if Madrid is awarded the Olympics are the gymnastics arena in the Olympic Park, the Madrid/Getafe Regatta Centre for canoe sprint, rowing and open water swimming in Getafe, the La Gavia Slalom Centre for canoe slalom in southern Madrid, halfway between the Olympic Park and the Magic Box, and the Paracuellos Shooting Center in Paracuellos del Jarama, close to the Barajas airport. The velodrome and the beach volleyball stadium would now be the only temporary venues.

[DamC]

Much better and clever plan (having Judo and Taekwondo in the Palacio de Deportes was stupid, it's large enough to host Volleyball so why build a new arena with a weak legacy plan?). Moving the Beach Volleyball venue wasn't necessary though.

[Athan]

Moving the Beach Volleyball venue wasn't necessary though.

No, it wasn't really necessary, but since hockey and volleyball had been removed from the Olympic Park, beach volleyball will make up for them. I think that's the reason why they decided to move it.

[RobH]

Wow, this thread kind of passed me by, but I don't remember a bidding city ever making such substantial changes between its Applicant and Candicacy files!

Obviously these changes are down to the economic situation in Spain and are going to go down well with Madrid residents, but what will the IOC make of it all?

[munichfan]

but what will the IOC make of it all?

A third place?

[Athan]

According to several Spanish media, it appears it was actually the IOC who suggested using already existing infrastructure instead of building new venues in order to save costs, so Madrid has just followed their advice.

I've found a map showing the new venue plan, so you can compare it to the one in the applicant file. Brown means already existing venues; light blue, existing with permanent works required; dark blue, permanent venues to be built; and orange, temporary venues. The venues in a red frame are the ones who have been changed.

[Athan]

Based on the bid team experience in London 2012, Ana Botella, Mayor of Madrid, has announced a new location for beach volleyball in order to make it more attractive for both spectators and TV audiences. It will not be held neither in the Club the Campo nor in the Olympic Park anymore, but in the Retiro Park pond, right in the city centre, which would be emptied and adapted during Games' time. As an image is worth more than a thousand words, this is the place:

Just imagine it with sand instead of water and with the crowds of spectators around.

It's important to say that it would not be emptied only because of the Games. It's emptied twice a year to be cleaned, so they'd just be taking advantage of this situation to host the Olympics in one of Madrid's most iconic places.
As far as I know, this is the venue that will appear in the bid book. If you want to locate it on the map above, it is southwest from the Palacio de Deportes (number 25), but very close, around 15 minutes walking.

[paul92]

Will they also remove the fish?