Accenture, Cámara de Comercio e Industria de Madrid (CEIM), J&A Garrigues, Gómez Acebo & Pombo Abogados, Grupo Villar Mir (OHL), IFEMA (Feria de Madrid), La Caixa, J C Decaux, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Telefónica will work together to advise the city council on developing projects to benefit the city and its residents.

Madrid's Mayor, Ana Botella (pictured top, left centre), welcomed the organisations to the launch event and explained that the initiative was vital in helping to boost the city's international credentials, while improving the lives of its inhabitants through urban planning and environmental management initiatives.

"In what is becoming an increasingly globalised marketplace, the Spanish capital needs a business sector that can compete with other cities around the world," she said.

"We will identify partnership programmes to improve services and the city's infrastructures."

Also attending the ceremony was Madrid 2020's President Alejandro Blanco (pictured top, right centre), who is also head of the Spanish Olympic Committee, who backed the project and said that winning the 2020 Games, which is it bidding for alongside Tokyo and Istanbul, would be a dream for the city council.

"The business community has the enthusiasm to match its investment," he said.

"Though you are under no obligation, you are demonstrating your commitment to the city and belief in bring the Games to Spain in 2020."

In exchange for their services, the companies forming part of the forum will be given opportunities to enhance their advertising and communication profile.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is due to select the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games host city on September 7 this year at its 125th Session in Buenos Aires.

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