ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said that Turkey was making important progress in sports with every passing day.
Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga International Airport prior to his departure for London where he would attend the inauguration of the olympic games, Prime Minister Erdogan said that a record number of Turkish athletes would compete in the London Olympics.
"I believe and have confidence in our athletes. We will return to Turkey with a high number of medals," Erdogan stated.
A total of 181 Turkish athletes will compete at the London Olympics.
Erdogan also said that, while in London, he would meet with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jack Rog.
Turkey's Istanbul province is a candidate to host the 2020 olympics. Other candidates are Tokyo and Madrid.
Erdogan will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron on July 27. He will also attend the inauguration ceremony of 2012 London Olympic Games as the guest of Cameron.
Erdogan will return to Turkey on July 28.
