By Duncan Mackay

Spanish unemploymentApril 25 - Madrid 2020 claim that they remain committed to their bid for the Olympics and Paralympics despite new figures released today revealing that unemployment in Spain has now reached over six million for the first time in the country's history.
 
Spain's National Statistics Institute published a report which showed the number of people unemployed rose by 237,400 people in the first three months of the year, a 1.1 percent increase from the previous quarter. 

The total out of work stood at 6.2 million people, leaving more Spaniards without work than the entire population of Denmark, and the percentage rate now matches that of Greece.

The number of people considered long-term unemployed - out of a job for more than a year - increased to 3.5 million while the unemployment rate for those aged under 25 was a staggering 57 per cent.

The Government body also said its survey found the number of households without any one working had risen by 72,400 to a 1.91 million.

But Madrid 2020 insist that the country continues to back their campaign to bring the Olympics and Paralympics to the Spanish capital for the first time. 

Spanish protestors against Madrid 2020A protestor against Madrid's bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympics outside the hotel during the IOC Evaluation Commission visit last month

"Our nation remains firmly behind the bid in spite of these difficult times," Madrid 2020 said in a statement.

"The Olympic project will re-energise our nation and help to regenerate our economy, providing well-needed employment, and to help boost tourism and inward investment."

Spain has been in recession for much of the past four years as it struggles to deal with the collapse of its once-booming real estate sector in 2008.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) claimed last week that Spain's economy will contract by 1.6 percent this year.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who imposed drastic spending cuts and tax increases last year, trying to bring a huge budget deficit under control, in line with the Euro Zone's policy of fighting its debt crisis with austerity, is due to announce a new round of measures tomorrow. 

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