By Nick Butler at the Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires

Hasan Arat (centre) is confident that Istanbul can win its bid to host the 2020 Olympics and ParalympicsSeptember 3 - Istanbul 2020 chairman Hasan Arat explained here how the magic of Istanbul will be blended with efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness as he seeks to provide a final touch of reassurance in the closing stages of the Turkish city's campaign.

This approach, focusing on practical success as much as extravagant gestures, is a sign of the economic times here as Istanbul seeks to illustrate that it is as capable as its rivals of hosting a Games which is well organised and affordable as well as spectacular.

The success of the recent Mediterranean Games in Mersin, where a seven-year construction programme was successfully implemented within its budget in just 18 months, has been cited as further evidence of this.

A confident yet focused Arat claimed that more of the same could be expected if Istanbul is awarded the Games.

"Despite the transformative effect hosting the Games will have on our city, Istanbul 2020 actually has one of the smallest incremental expenditure budgets of recent times," he said.

"We are in good condition and in good shape and everyday you will see something different from us."

"Our bid will combine the magic of Istanbul with delivery, certainty and technical excellence.

"We are in it to win it and are very positive."

The Bosphorus will play an important part if Istanbul is awarded the 2020 Olympics and ParalympicsThe Bosphorus will play an important part if Istanbul is awarded the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics

Istanbul are are locked in a fierce battle with rival cities Tokyo and Madrid ahead of a vote to be made here on Saturday (September 7) as part of the 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session.

It was refreshing to see Arat resist any opportunity to criticise his rivals, as they "are all friends and respect each other."

The former basketball player did show, however that he had not lost his competitive zeal when he admitted to feeling "as if me, myself and my team are in the Olympic finals."

"We have done our best until now but are ready to play to the last second to make our dream happen," he added.

The announcement that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will travel here to lend his support is another indicator that this momentum will not be allowed to drop in these last seconds. 

"The Prime Minister was the Mayor of Istanbul the second time the city bid for the Games and he has been involved heavily since our bid was announced two years ago," Arat said.

"He knows every step that we are taking and we are happy that our leader is here with us on a very important day for Turkey, Istanbul and the Olympic Movement."

Erdogans arrival is expected to provide a further boost to the bidRecep Tayyip Erdogans arrival is expected to provide a further boost to Istanbul's bid ahead of the vote on September 7.


The Turkish Prime Minister will arrive here directly from St Petersburg where he has been attending a G20 leader's conference primarily concerning the ever escalating trouble in Syria.

With the danger of the conflict "spilling over" into Turkey remaining a possibility, this is something which Arat is aware of although it is an issue he prefers to leave to the experts.

"Syria is a global issue that the world leaders are dealing with," he said.

"We hope that a good solution will be found for all of the people who are suffering there.

"But we will leave that for the leaders as we focus on our bid which in itself is so important for our country as well as our region."

This reaction illustrates how focused his team are on the immediate matter of hand ahead of the decision being made here and it has been a tactic similarly demonstrated by Tokyo's bid in their dealing with the ongoing Fukushima Nuclear Incident.

However, when presented with the question of drugs, Arat was very willing to directly address an issue which has caused negative publicity for Turkey in 2013 after a string of positive tests.

"We want clean athletes and a clean games with good rolemodels," he said.

"The IOC is aware that Turkey is fighting strongly against these issues and that we have a zero tolerance policy and will continue to do our best."

Yet Arat was most passionate when he returned to the unique "magic" of Istanbul which is something encapsulated in the bid slogan "Bridge Together" 

Swimmers in the Bosphorous highlighting the strengths of Istanbul 2020s bidSwimmers in the Bosphorous highlighting this magic of Istanbul as they swim in a city which will "bridge together" the two continent's of Europe and Asia at the Olympics for the first time


















This slogan has also been realised in the opening of the new Marmaray railway tunnel between Europe and Asia and this is something which Arat sees as epitomising this "magic" of Istanbul.

"It is the new silk road and has been 150 years in the making," he said.

"It means alot for our country and city and creates a new culture and gateway to the Olympic Movement." 

He and his team will be hoping that developments such as the Marmaray tunnel, along with "delivery, certainty and technical excellence" will propel Istanbul towards Turkey's dream of victory.

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