Turkey welcomed internationally renowned designers and models, including Nihan Peker and Karlie Kloss, to the Mercedes-Benz event at Antrepo No.3 underling its credentials as a world-class centre for cultural events.

Thousands of extra visitors have also stayed in Istanbul for the fashion event, helping reinforce Istanbul 2020's message to the IOC that, as the fifth most visited tourist destination in the world with 11.6 million visitors in 2012, Istanbul is more than ready to welcome the Olympic family in 2020, officials claimed.

Meanwhile, Cirque Du Soleil's "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" starts today at Istanbul's Ülker Sports Arena, which is one of two proposed volleyball venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, and comes as Alicia Keys was announced as the headline act for the 20th Istanbul Jazz Festival taking place this July.


"Istanbul Fashion Week brings the city alive and the buzz it creates is the ideal scene-setter for the IOC Evaluation Commission's arrival next week," Hasan Arat, Istanbul 2020 chairman, said.

"Once again, Istanbul has provided a dramatic backdrop for a world-class event.

"Fashion Week reflects Istanbul's diverse culture as well as the creative and innovative talent that exists within our very youthful population.

"This is a message we will be repeating to the IOC next week."


Uğur Erdener, President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey and an IOC member himself, also welcomed the latest series of cultural events and said it highlighted Istanbul's ability to put on internationally recognised cultural events.

"Istanbul's ability to attract world stars is a further sign that Turkey's lure as an entertainment hub resonates throughout the world," he said.

"Turkey's dream is to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"During the IOC Evaluation Commission's visit next week, we can point to past, current and future examples of our ability to deliver events with a global reach."

IOC vice-president, Sir Craig Reedie will arrive in Istanbul on March 24 to lead the Evaluation Commission's four-day assessment of the bid, having already inspected both Tokyo and Madrid - the city's rivals in the bid race.

The IOC are due to elect the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games host city on September 7 this year at its 125th Session in Buenos Aires.

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