HRH Prince Felipe voices unconditional support for Madrid's Olympic Dream

On Thursday HRH Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, had an audience with Madrid 2020 Bid President Alejandro Blanco and the Mayor of Madrid Ana Botella at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, where they presented His Royal Highness with the Madrid 2020 Candidature File. The document sets out the project that Madrid hopes will lead to it being awarded the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Accompanying Prince Felipe was HRH Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón, an Honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Prince’s aunt.

Also in attendance at the event were Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, Marisol Casado and Jose Perurena – the three Spanish members of the IOC – and the Spanish Secretary of State for Sport Miguel Cardenal.

Blanco, who is also the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), described the ceremony as a solid show support for the project from Spain’s institutions and its royal family.

Speaking afterwards, Samaranch highlighted the Prince’s steadfast commitment to the project, adding: "We are counting on His Royal Highness and his leadership to help us complete the last stage in our race towards our Olympic dream."

Casado said: "The Prince expressed great support, as the royal family has always done."

"He is very involved in the project and excited about it," added Perurena. "Thanks to the work everyone is putting in together, we are convinced we have a winning bid."

HRH Infanta Doña Pilar explained to the Prince which events and initiatives he can become involved in over the coming months.

"He was both receptive and very excited about it," commented the Spanish members of the IOC.

Prince Felipe’s backing for Madrid’s Olympic project came just a day after Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was himself presented with the Candidature File by Blanco and Botella, an event in which Rajoy expressed the firm support that he, the government and the people of Spain as a whole are giving to Madrid’s Olympic dream.

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