Madrid 2016 Presents its Olympic Project to Africa

Gallardón Heads up Delegation to Nigeria Presenting Spain’s Olympic Project to the African Committees

Madrid 2016 Presents its Olympic Project to Africa

Gallardón reiterated Madrid’s promise to serve as a bridge between Africa and Europe, recalling Spain’s tenfold increase in economic aid to Western Africa Alejandro Blanco offered installations to the African Committees for use on the continent, such as the Centre for High Performance

Show of solidarity in the second Champion for Africa match in September between Seville’s Kanouté and his friends and Madrid 2016 professionals, in support of UNICEF’s programmes in Africa

Madrid, 7 July 2009 - With three months to go until the final decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Copenhagen, Madrid’s candidacy for the 2016 Olympics is moving up a gear. Newly arrived in Nigeria for a presentation in its capital, Abuja, the Madrid delegation headed up by Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, has outlined its project to the Olympic representatives of Africa. Amongst others, the Madrid team includes: HRH Doña Pilar de Borbón, Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish IOC; Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr; and Madrid 2016 bid chief, Mercedes Coghen.

HRH Doña Pilar de Borbón defined the spirit they had taken to Africa. “Presenting our Olympic & Paralympic project is far more than a celebration – it is enjoying the greatest sporting achievement on the planet. For Madrid, for Spain, the opportunity to celebrate an Olympic Games is a passport to a better world – more sympathetic, more human, more close”. This was reinforced by the Mayor in affirming, “I have no doubt that in Madrid in 2017 the Olympic & Paralympic Games will have changed our lives forever”.

Ruiz-Gallardón reminded the African Olympic family of the trip made to the same place recently by President of the Spanish Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who stated – although from different political backgrounds – “if there is one thing in which we are fully united then that is Madrid’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Games”.

Madrid, bridge between Africa and Europe
Ruiz-Gallardón also recalled how Spain had increased its international aid by tenfold to Western Africa, along with the Spanish Government’s promise to help Africa in its relations with Europe, as it will assume the presidency of the European Union over the coming year. The Mayor summed up this commitment as Madrid’s wish to be “a bridge to unite Africa and Europe, as we have always been throughout our history”.

The 180 nationalities which live together happily in the Spanish capital demonstrate its characteristically warm welcome and hospitality. This has lead the Mayor to declare: “I open the doors of my city to you and offer a model which will show how the Games can transform a place through people, infrastructure, technology, and self-interest.”

For Mercedes Coghen, Madrid 2016 will be the tool for shaping a culture of “respect, tolerance, and understanding”.

Altruism
In turn, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee Alejandro Blanco offered Spanish installations, such as the Centre for High Performance, to the members of the African Committees, in pursuit of their professional sporting goals. “Many of your athletes are already using our venues,” he said. “I truly believe that Spain, through its climate and atmosphere, is the best option for competing, training, and having fun.”

An example of this teamwork with the African continent is the second Champions for Africa match in September, between the friends of Sevilla Kanouté and a combination of Madrid 2016 professional footballers to raise funds for UNICEF programmes in Africa.

Hospitable character, popular support with the backing of 93% of citizens, solid financing, advanced infrastructure, and the cumulative experience of hosting over 400 international sporting events – these are just some of the guarantees for betting on Madrid, as listed by Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.

ENDS

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