By Duncan Mackay at the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne

Mardid 2020 hand in bid book Lausanne January 7 2013January 7 - Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics is "dream for all Spaniards", claimed Madrid's Mayor Ana Botella despite the country's severe financial problems as she led the delegation which handed in the Candidature file here today. 


Botella led the Spanish capital's delegation as they handed in their file and was joined by the country's three International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Marisol Casado and Jose Perurena.

She described Madrid's bid as "a project the whole country is behind and a dream for all Spaniards".

Botella added: "The proof can be seen in the fact that three levels of Government are represented here - the city, the regional and the national.

"We are here to give our support to the countless people who are working for and believe in Madrid's Olympic aspirations."

Madrid claims to be the biggest capital in Europe never to have hosted the Olympics and Paralympics. 

This is their third consecutive campaign, having narrowly failed to win its to host the 2012 Games awarded to London and finished second behind Rio de Janeiro for 2016. 

A key strength of Madrid's bid, claimed Alejandro Blanco,the President of Madrid 2020 and the Spanish Olympic Committee, is that much of the infrastructure is already in place. 

Even more significant than that, he argued, are Spain's excellent track record in hosting international sporting fixtures.

Madird 2020 present bid book Lausanne January 7 2013Madrid's team pose for a picture after delivering its Candidature file to the IOC

"No other city or country in the world has welcomed more high level competitions than us, nor with such success," said Blanco, who was part of the delegation along with the President of the Sports Council Miguel Cardenal and Lucia Figar, the Councillor for Education, Sports and Youth with the Madrid Regional Government.

Also providing their backing were Madrid 2020's chief executive Victor Sanchez and double Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Theresa Zabell.

The presentation took place during a 30-minute meeting with the IOC's head of Bid City Relations Jacqueline Barrett and Executive Director of the Olympic Games Gilbert Felli.

Madrid is due to release full details of its bid at a press conference at City Hall tomorrow. 

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