The Perfect Olympics For The Media

Madrid 2016 Will Be The Perfect Olympics For Media, AIPS Told

Madrid, 1 May 2009 - Madrid 2016 will be the perfect Olympics and Paralympics for the media, bid leaders told the 2009 congress of the international sports press association (AIPS).

The leader of Madrid’s Olympic bid presented to journalists at the congress in Milan, the week before the IOC Evaluation Commission visit Madrid.

Bid CEO Mercedes Coghen said: “I am pleased to say that the media will be very well looked after in Madrid in 2016.

“We know the hours for the media are long and the pressures to deliver coverage are great so there will be no compromise in providing what we believe will be the best media village ever seen at an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The Media Village – which is right next to the Main Press Centre and the International Broadcast Centre - is state of the art.

“The design was chosen from plans submitted by 19 different architects and the futuristic facilities and living accommodation cover 20 hectares of land very close to the main Olympic venues – just 15 minutes to the Olympic Park by bus.

“And the Media Village is only 10 minutes to the centre of the city which will allow journalists to have great fun, if they have enough strength for “fiesta”.

“You as journalists have four great candidate cities to write about and I thank you for the positive coverage that Madrid’s bid has so far received around the world.

“I hope and believe that on October 2nd this year you will be writing that Madrid has been chosen as the Olympic city for 2016.” she said.

The Mayor of Madrid, Mr Alberto Ruiz Gallardon said: “Madrid is a city that lives sport and many of you will have seen this for yourselves while covering some of the 200 international sports competitions held in our city over the last ten years.

“This extensive experience in organizing sports events has helped us design the venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, thinking not just about the competitions that they host, but also their future everyday use by our people.”

Spanish sports legend Manel Estiarte, who competed in a record six Olympics at water polo winning gold and silver medals, told the congress:

“I believe that journalists who come to Madrid will see the passion of the Spanish people, world beating sports venues and a wonderful city to enjoy. They will see the wonderful Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the brand new Magic Box tennis arena and people enjoying sport every day.

“If you come to Madrid you will also see that the new Aquatics Centre is now being built right next to the new Olympic Stadium so from a personal point of view I very much look forward to seeing the Water Polo there in 2016. Sport in Spain has also become a champion.“

The evaluation committee of the International Olympic Committee make their official visit to Madrid next week.

ENDS

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