ISTANBUL
Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone said on Friday, "Turkey is ready to host 2020 Olympic Games."
Speaking at a panel titled "Olympics - 2020 candidacy and achievements" in the scope of "International Sports Summit", Ken Livingstone said, London competed with Paris and New York to win for hosting the 2012 Summer Games.
The Sports summit was organized to promote Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Livingstone shared his point of view about Istanbul's candidacy and said, "In the next 40 years, Turkey will pass Germany in the sense of economics. The strategy which you show for the games is very important."
He noted that Istanbul has more than Tokyo and Madrid for hosting 2020 games and added, "Istanbul would not be suitable to host the games 20 years ago but each time, I visit here, things do change. Turkey is really ready to host the games. If I was a member of the Committee, then I would use my vote for Istanbul. Previously, games took place in Barcelona and Tokyo. It's Istanbul's turn now. Its the turn of a country which links Europe and Asia. I will be discussing this with presidents when I am back to London."
