Istanbul bid unsuccessfully for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and has announced that it plans to try again for the 2020 Games. 

"Turkey seeks to host Olympic Games in Istanbul," said Akgul.

"It is a priority for Turkey."

In May Turkey narrowly failed in a bid to host football's 2016 European Championships, losing out to France by just one vote.

Earlier this year Turkey hosted the World Basketball Championships, with the home team losing 81-64 to the United States in the final.

Turkey is already due to host the Winter University Games at Erzurum next year.

Istanbul is also due to stage the 2012 World Indoor Athletics Championships, an important event in the build-up to London 2012.

They also recently revaled plans to bid for the outdoor World Championships in 2017.

"In this regard, we are trying to hold all World and European and championships at the highest level in our country," said Akgul.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is due to officially open the bidding for 2020 next year with a decision due to be announced at its Session in Buenos Aires in 2013.

But already a number of cities have started to express an interest, including Budapest, Cape Town, Dubai, New Delhi, Rome and Tokyo.

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