Olympic bid registers over 20,000 volunteers

Madrid’s 2016 Olympic bid registers over 20,000 volunteers

Madrid, 20 January 2009 - Madrid’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is boosted by today’s announcement that over 20,000 volunteers have registered their active support for the Games. Together with recent polls posting record levels of public support at 92%, the announcement emphasises the depth of support and passion for the XXXI Olympic Games coming to Madrid in 2016.

“Olympic bids are not about a few important people but everyone in the country. Volunteers are so important in major sporting events and they are the lifeblood of our bid,” commented Madrid 2016 CEO Mercedes Coghen. “It is so heartening that so many people have pledged their support in so many ways. It emphasizes how popular the bid is and how much we want the Olympic Games in Spain. The Olympics for us is all about people – we want 2016 to be the Games with the Human Touch.”

“The Madrid bid has full support from all areas of Spanish life and culture – everyone from citizens in the street through companies and the King and Government back us in trying to bring the Games to Madrid. We are confident we are the best and safest choice for 2016,” Ms Coghen continued.

The Spanish candidacy has backing from all levels of society. On 16th December the Spanish parliament, with the support of all the country’s political parties, recorded that the bid to bring the Olympics to Madrid, was a fantastic opportunity. The full statement concluded with the words: ‘To host the Games will not only be an honour for Madrid, but for the whole Spanish people’.

King Juan Carlos last month confirmed his commitment to sport in Spain along with the whole royal family, including the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Asturias and the Infanta. “We feel very close to the Spanish sporting family and we are committed to the promotion and diffusion of this activity as well as to the people who practice sport significantly,’ he said.

Corporate backing is also strong. Over 65 sponsors have brought more than €20 million in funding to the candidacy, which will continue into the event itself if Madrid is successful in winning the nomination.

The bid team itself, led by CEO Mercedes Coghen, has a busy year of meetings and presentations ahead in the run up to the IOC’s final vote in Copenhagen in October. Such strong commitment to the cause throughout Spain is a genuine boost for everyone working on the bid.

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