SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Facts and figures about Madrid, one of three cities bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, ahead of the vote by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members in Buenos Aires on Saturday, September 7.
MADRID
Status: Capital city
Population: 3.3 million
Size: 606 square kilometers (234 square miles)
Geography: Located bang in the centre of Spain, Madrid has cold winters and sweltering hot summers with temperatures in the high 30s Celsius.
History: Founded as Mayrit during the Arab conquests of the ninth century, the city was made the capital by King Felipe II in 1561. It was a cradle of revolt against the French occupation of Spain in the 19th century and in the 1930s was a stronghold of Republican resistance against Franco in Spain’s Civil War.
Olympic Games hosted: none. Spain did however host the summer Games in Barcelona in 1992.
Number of Olympic bids: Four: 1972, 2012 (third), 2016 (second) and 2020 Games.
City’s estimated budget to host 2020 Games: $3.1 billion (2.35 billion euros).
Total estimated cost, including investment in building of needed infrastructure: $5.2 billion (3.93 billion euros).
Delegation at Saturday’s vote: Crown Prince Felipe; Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy; Madrid’s Mayor Ana Botella and the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco. The Spanish sports world is represented by Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Pau Gasol and Paralympic swimmer Teresa Perales.
Bid slogan: “Illuminate the Future”.
Bid strategy: Madrid emphasizes its penny-pinching budget at a time of financial crisis and recession in Spain and its large share of ready-built infrastructure following two previous bids.
Bid highlights: Madrid offers relatively compact Games, with most venues within 10 kilometers of the city centre, principally at two open spaces: the Campo de las Naciones district near the airport and in the west of the city near the Manzanares river. The city already boasts well-developed public transport links.
Infrastructure: Madrid says it has 80 percent of the necessary infrastructure for the Games already built, including an Olympic stadium. It has yet to build an Olympic Village and a gymnastics venue, canoeing courses and archery range. – Rappler.com
2020 OLYMPICS CANDIDATE CITIES FACTFILES: TOKYO | ISTANBUL | MADRID
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.