2020 Leaders in Africa discuss bid, African Sport, and Future

(ATR) Leaders from the Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo Olympic bids say the strong ties with their countries and Africa made the ANOCA General Assembly an especially important stop on the bid circuit.

Around the Rings spoke with Istanbul 2020 Chairman Hasan Arat, Madrid 2020 International Relations CEO Theresa Zabell and Tokyo 2020 President Tsunekazu Takeda during the recently-concluded ANOCA General Assembly.

Following ANOCA, the bids head to the European Youth Olympic Festival in Utrecht and the Aquatics World Championships in Barcelona.

The IOC will select a host city at its Session this September in Buenos Aires.

Highlights from their conversations are presented alphabetically by bid city.

Hasan Arat, Istanbul 2020 Chairman

Turkey’s growth in economic strength in the past decade has allowed the country to expand and deepen connections in Africa. Arat said the importance of Africa to Turkey’s diplomatic ambitions extends to Istanbul 2020.

"The African connection with Turkey over the last 10 years is getting stronger and stronger," he said. Since 2005, Turkey has tripled the number of embassies throughout Africa to 36.

"The Turkish and African relationship in the economic side is booming now. It is one of the biggest trade partners in the region.

"We have easy connectivity to Turkey, no visa problems so a lot of African athletes are playing in Turkey," he added.

Arat said the Turkish National Olympic Committee is drafting Memorandums of Understanding with NOCs in Africa to facilitate athlete and coach exchanges. Due to IOC rules, the Turkish NOC cannot sign any new MOUs while Istanbul is a bid city.

"It’s a very good atmosphere for us to meet and to give our respect to ANOCA."

This is not Arat’s first visit to Africa. He said he has been part of official visits to African countries "many times."

Theresa Zabell, Madrid 2020 International Relations CEO

African athletes and teams have come to train in Spain for years, Zabell said,creating familiarity with Spain and the continent.

The familiarity from African athletes with Spanish sporting facilities and practices, as well as the continent’s proximity to Spain meshes with Madrid 2020’s message, Zabell claimed.

"That very clear message is sport. We have a bid which is very compact which is really focused on athletes…they can focus on the most important things that they’ve been preparing for many, many years which is the competition and when they are not competing they can relax and have the time of their lives."

She added that another important element of the ANOCA General Assembly is that it is the largest continental association.

"We’ve gone to all of them feeling they are all extremely important for us but obviously ANOCA is extremely important for us, there are over 50 NOCs and lots of IOC members coming and we’re very excited to meet with all of the ones that are here and be able to explain our project."

Tsunekazu Takeda, Tokyo 2020 President

Japan’s connections with sport in Africa run deep, and they could expand if Tokyo wins the 2020 Olympics, says Takeda.

"Japan has a very close relationship with many African countries," Takeda said.

He pointed out that for more than 20 years, a joint Japanese government and Japanese Olympic Committee program has supported sport in more than 46 countries in Africa.

Takeda said he was spending his time explaining the government’s "Sports for Tomorrow" funding scheme. The project, he said "is not new" but will be a "wider project in support of developing countries, especially in Africa.

"If we win the government will increase. We are studying how to continue to contribute to sport promotion in the future."

"Everybody is very interested in this project."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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