Gallardon had headed the two most recent attempts by the Spanish capital to host the Games.

Madrid finished behind London and Paris in the vote for the host city for the 2012 Games and lost out to Rio de Janeiro in the decision for 2016.

They had also bid unsuccessfully for the 1973 Olympics, which were awarded to Munich.

The Mayor, who is a prominent member of the Popular Party, said he believed that it would help the 2020 Madrid campaign to be headed by someone more closely linked to sport rather than from politics, such as Sebastian Coe, the figurehead of the London 2012 Olympics.

"It is the system that functioned with Rio de Janeiro and London, where they put the focal point in sport and not in politics," said Gallardon.

A former Spanish judo international, 60-year-old Blanco was elected President of COE in January 2004.

In the election he had beaten Mercedes Coghen, the chief executive of the Madrid 2016 bid.

"He has a strong professional personality and will represent all of the Olympic sports," said Gallardon.

"He has always dedicated himself exclusively to sport."

Juan Antonio Samaranch junior, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), claimed Blanco's appointment was a boost for the bid, which will face opposition from Baku, Doha, Istanbul, Rome and Tokyo.

"It is a modern and a difference [to previous Madrid bids]," he said.

"His appointment fills us with hope.

"Everyone wants us to have a high quality bid and it is good that this time the bid will led for sport from within sport."

The appointment of Blanco, President of the Spanish Judo Federation between 1993 and 2005, has also been backed by Spanish sports leaders.

José María Odriozola, the President of Real Federación Española de Atletismo (RFEA), athletics' governing body, said the decision "is a recognition of Spanish sport" and a is sign of "confidence in the ability of the President of the COE."

"We are all willing to cooperate, as far as we can, so that Madrid is an Olympic city in 2020," Odriozola said.

Gallardon is confident that under Blanco, who will now have responsibility for appointing the executive team to launch the bid properly, will finally deliver the Games to Madrid, which claims to be the biggest capital city in Europe never to have hosted the Olympics.

He is confident that Madrid will finally be successful when the IOC announces the host city at its Session in Buenos Aires on September 7, 2013.

"We are absolutely convinced that this time will achieve this goal," said Gallardon.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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