LAS PALMAS, Spain—Over 400,000 people took to the streets in Madrid on Sunday, crowding the iconic Cibeles Square with a gigantic human mosaic to bolster Madrid’s dream of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games.
Madrid is up against Chicago, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro for the summer games bid. The winning country will be chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by vote in Copenhagen on Friday.
The “Feeling Day” event was the latest event organized to support Madrid’s Olympic bid. Long-legged jugglers, face makeup, balloons, and t-shirts were offered to the masses gathered.
Around 400 volunteers handed out colored paper and worked to ensure everyone was in the right place to create the massive human mosaic. Families, groups of friends, and even tourists enthusiastically lifted the colored paper high, painting the city’s hope in bright colors.
“Today’s events are very important for the Madrid candidature, because we give a formidable message, not only to the IOC, but to the whole Olympic movement: This city loves sports and want the games,” said Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, mayor of Madrid.
Popular support for hosting the games in Madrid is a big plus to help make the Spanish Olympic dream come true in Copenhagen. Nine out of 10 Madrid citizens support the bid, as well as 92.6 percent of Spanish population; there are already 46,500 volunteers lining up.
An IOC report from Sept. 2 described the political support in Spain for hosting the Games. “The Spanish government, the Madrid regional government, and the city council of Madrid all support the bid, as do the respective governments of the co-host cities. There is strong political unity and cross party political support.”
The construction status of venues in Madrid is another factor in its Olympic bid. “Madrid proposes 33 venues. Seventeen exist with no permanent work required; six exist with permanent work required; two venues will be built irrespective of the Games; and six new permanent venues and two temporary venues are Games-dependent,” according to the IOC report.
Part of the Madrid plan is to covert 85 percent of the Olympic Village into social housing after the Games.
Madrid is experienced in hosting sporting events, with more than a 100 events in the last 10 years.
A Spanish expedition, led by Madrid’s Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and the chairwoman of the Madrid 2016 bid, traveled to Copenhagen on Monday to await the final vote.
During the 121st International Olympic Committee Session in Copenhagen, 97 out of the 106 members will decide Olympic fate of Madrid in the first voting round for the Olympic Games host for 2016.
“We are preparing the presentation, those key 45 minutes we have to convince, if there is any yet undecided IOC member, in an amusing and touching way, what Madrid really is,” said Juan Antonio Villanueva, communication manager of the Madrid bid, to Marca newspaper.
Madrid is up against Chicago, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro for the summer games bid. The winning country will be chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by vote in Copenhagen on Friday.
The “Feeling Day” event was the latest event organized to support Madrid’s Olympic bid. Long-legged jugglers, face makeup, balloons, and t-shirts were offered to the masses gathered.
Around 400 volunteers handed out colored paper and worked to ensure everyone was in the right place to create the massive human mosaic. Families, groups of friends, and even tourists enthusiastically lifted the colored paper high, painting the city’s hope in bright colors.
“Today’s events are very important for the Madrid candidature, because we give a formidable message, not only to the IOC, but to the whole Olympic movement: This city loves sports and want the games,” said Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, mayor of Madrid.
Popular support for hosting the games in Madrid is a big plus to help make the Spanish Olympic dream come true in Copenhagen. Nine out of 10 Madrid citizens support the bid, as well as 92.6 percent of Spanish population; there are already 46,500 volunteers lining up.
An IOC report from Sept. 2 described the political support in Spain for hosting the Games. “The Spanish government, the Madrid regional government, and the city council of Madrid all support the bid, as do the respective governments of the co-host cities. There is strong political unity and cross party political support.”
The construction status of venues in Madrid is another factor in its Olympic bid. “Madrid proposes 33 venues. Seventeen exist with no permanent work required; six exist with permanent work required; two venues will be built irrespective of the Games; and six new permanent venues and two temporary venues are Games-dependent,” according to the IOC report.
Part of the Madrid plan is to covert 85 percent of the Olympic Village into social housing after the Games.
Madrid is experienced in hosting sporting events, with more than a 100 events in the last 10 years.
A Spanish expedition, led by Madrid’s Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and the chairwoman of the Madrid 2016 bid, traveled to Copenhagen on Monday to await the final vote.
During the 121st International Olympic Committee Session in Copenhagen, 97 out of the 106 members will decide Olympic fate of Madrid in the first voting round for the Olympic Games host for 2016.
“We are preparing the presentation, those key 45 minutes we have to convince, if there is any yet undecided IOC member, in an amusing and touching way, what Madrid really is,” said Juan Antonio Villanueva, communication manager of the Madrid bid, to Marca newspaper.
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