The decision from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board was announced here at the SportAccord Convention by the IOC executive director Gilbert Felli and the IOC head of communications Mark Adams (pictured below, left) and it comes as a major blow to both Baku and Doha after both were eliminated in the same stage in the race for the 2016 Games four years ago.

The 2020 Working Group Report claimed that Baku does not have the "planning and experience" to deliver a successful Games, while it said that Doha would need "to construct and test the substantial amount of new infrastructure needed to host the 2020 Olympic Games".

The report continued that it should be left to the IOC Executive Board to make the decision, but the IOC's ruling elite have voted against including the Qatari capital, despite the fact that they, along with Baku, are the two cities with the strongest financial resources to stage the event.

It appears to be a harsh decision on both given that Azerbaijan were moving to host major event in the country, including the Eurovision Song Contest this Saturday (May 26), while Doha had provided reassurances to the IOC regarding their proposal to hold the Games outside the normal window in July and August to avoid the incredibly hot temperatures in the Gulf State in those months.


"It is important to thank the five cities in the process and the quality that has been provided by all five of them is excellent," said Felli (pictured above, right).

"The working group has relayed their expertise regarding the technical merit of the bid and it is from this information that the Executive Board has made their decision.

"It has been concluded that neither Baku nor Doha has the capability to host a successful 2020 Olympic Games at this stage.

"We thank them for their involvement and we congratulate Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo for making it through to the next stage."

"We are obviously very disappointed not to become a Candidate City for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (pictured top), the general secretary of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).

"The support we received from the International Federations on the dates we proposed provided conditions for athletes comparable to those of previous Olympic and Paralympic Games, which we believed fulfilled the pre-conditions of the Executive Board.

"So we are surprised by this decision."

Baku also looked stunned by the decision with bid chief executive Konul Nurullayeva (pictured below) left in tears.


"We sincerely congratulate Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo that made it to the Candidate City Phase," said a statement on their Facebook page.

"We are of course extremely disappointed, but we accept the decision of the IOC Executive Board."

The report left them with no chance to stage the event as it said: "The Working Group nevertheless feels that the city's infrastructure and Games' planning and experience are not sufficiently developed at this stage to deliver successful Olympic Games in 2020.

"Concern was also expressed whether the significant amount of construction required to host the Games was consistent with the size and legacy needs of the city.

"For these reasons, the Working Group recommends to the Executive Board that Baku should not advance to the second phase of the 2020 bid process."

The move appears to be a clear message from the IOC that financial muscle plays no part in winning a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, particularly given the fact that Madrid has made it through to the final three despite Spain's dire economic situation.

Istanbul also has problems as they are looking to stage the event at the same time as football's European Championships in 2020 but Tokyo was always considered to cruise through to the next stage with a clean bill of health.


Istanbul received a promising report which said: "If accepted as a Candidate City, some aspects of the plan would need to be refined to improve the athlete experience and the overall Olympic experience for all other Games' participants.

"However, the Working Group believes that the application offers good potential and recommends that the Executive Board selects Istanbul as a Candidate City."

Tokyo was also praised as the report said: "The Working Group believes that the Tokyo 2020 presents a very strong application and offers athletes the conditions to be able to compete at their best."

For Madrid, it said: "Although careful attention would need to be paid to Spain's economic outlook, the Working Group recommends that the Executive Board selects Madrid as a Candidate City."

All three were delighted with the decision.

"The recommendation from the Working Group proves that this is a new Bid for a new Turkey," said Istanbul 2020 leader Hasan Arat.

"Istanbul has learned the lessons of past Bids; we have gathered a young, dynamic and very strong team around us; and we have created a fresh and compelling concept.

"This time, Istanbul is ready to deliver."

Tsunekazu Takeda, the President of Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), was the first to express his delight for his team.

"We are delighted that Tokyo has been accepted as a Candidate City, and I would like to personally thank the IOC for this decision.

"I also would like to give my warmest thanks to all of those involved in the Bid for your efforts in creating a spectacular Games plan.


Spain's double Olympic gold medal winning sailor Theresa Zabell (pictured above, third left) from the Madrid 2020 team was also delighted.

"We are obviously very pleased," Zabell told insidethegames.

"Our first reaction is that we are sorry for Doha and Baku because we know that it must be very difficult for them at this moment.

"Our second feeling is gratitude to all the people who made it possible for Madrid to reach this far.

"Not only the people on the bid team but all those people who have been involved in the past, this is our third attempt.

"Now it is a moment for us to reflect and focus until Buenos Aires and make sure we get the strongest bid and message to the IOC."

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