Last week, a senior Madrid 2020 delegation led by Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) President Alejandro Blanco handed in their Applicant City file at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne despite the fact that Spain is among the European countries worst affected by the current economic crisis.

It was the economic crisis that forced Rome to withdraw from the 2020 bid race but Baroness Tanni, who won 11-Paralympic gold medals in a glittering career, has predicted that the event in Madrid could replicate the competition in Barcelona in 1992, where the British star won four gold medals and a silver.

"Barcelona 1992 changed my life and the whole Paralympic Movement," she said at a gathering at the Intercontinental Hotel in Madrid organised by news agency Europa Press which she attended alongside British Ambassador to Spain Giles Paxman (pictured right).

"Those Games really meant acceptance towards disabled people.

"So I hope Madrid is awarded these Games in 2020 because it is wonderful being in a country that feels the same passion for sport that we do."

Madrid is bidding to host the Summer Olympics for the third time in succession, following unsuccessful bids for 2012 and 2016, which were awarded to London and Rio de Janeiro respectively.


Baroness Tanni was a key part of the successful London 2012 bid team that travelled to Singapore in July in 2005 and saw off their four rivals Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris.

The decisive moment came when London, Madrid and Paris all came up against each other in third round of the IOC vote and the Spanish capital was ousted.

Madrid then gave their votes to the London, who secured victory against Paris in the final round, but Baroness Tanni admitted that the entire London 2012 bid team were fearful of the strength of the Madrid 2012 bid and were happy to see them go out in the third round of voting.

"The worst scenario for London would have been reaching the final ballot with Madrid, which was a very strong candidate," she said.

"I must admit we felt relieved when Madrid was left out of the running.

"We hope Madrid can make it this time."

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