Ekrem IMAMOGLU, President of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) has announced that they aspire to bring "2036 Olympic Games" and "Paralympic Games" to Istanbul.
The mayor who realized a presentation meeting at the Volkswagen Arena in SARIYER District under the title of "Istanbul Sports Strategy and Future Plan" announced Istanbul’s determination for “Olympic Candidacy”.
He said, "On behalf of all the people of Istanbul, on behalf of Turkey, we want the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Istanbul” adding “We call on our state, the Turkish National Olympic Committee and the Turkish National Paralympic Committee and all relevant institutions to cooperate."
IMAMOGLU said, “Because today, we are starting a long journey. I know from personal experience what a great need this journey is for both individuals and society as a whole. The name of this journey is the journey of making Istanbul a city of sports.”
The Mayor went on to say, "Let's work together and bring the best sports events in the world to the people of Istanbul. Our door will be open to all our federations and clubs who want to be partners in the philosophy and excitement of Olympics and put effort and faith in this long journey."
Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, our century-old clubs that have enjoyed major success stories all along; I want to call on our brands, in particular: let's stand shoulder to shoulder; let's get all the major international organizations.
Istanbul's Olympic Games adventure
Turkey has not hosted the Olympic Games so far. Istanbul has previously been a candidate for the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2020 Olympics.
Turkey's National Olympic Committee announced on 7 July 2011 that Turkey would be a candidate for the 2020 Games. Announcing Turkey's candidacy for the 2020 Olympics on August 13, 2011, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Turkey is essentially an olympic country. The torch will suit this country very well.”
The city to host the Olympics was determined on 7 September 2013. Madrid was eliminated in the first round of voting, while Tokyo, which had a 60-36 advantage over Istanbul in the second round of voting, became the city that won the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Erdogan, who watched the London Olympics in July 2012, criticized the fact that Turkey had not been given the Olympics so far, saying: "London has done it 3 times and Madrid has done it 2 times. Tokyo did it 2 times. These countries did 2-3 times, while Turkey came to the final 5 times and still did not host such an Olympics.”
