It's fair Tokyo was awarded 2020 Olympic Games - Samaranch Jr.

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-9-25 8:33:37

Spanish IOC member, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. said this Tuesday that although Madrid would no doubt still feel hurt at the failure to be chosen as the host city for the 2020 Olympic Games, the decision to give the Games to Tokyo was "reasonable."

In its third consecutive attempt to host the Games, Madrid lost in the first round of voting held in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7 to decide the host city.

Perhaps the fact Madrid was not chosen was not a surprise, but the fact Madrid fell at the first hurdle against unfancied Istanbul was a shock to most Spaniards and initially provoked reactions with some of the country's more nationalistic newspapers even suggesting the vote was rigged.

With the passage of time, however, the weakness in the Spanish candidacy and presentation have become increasingly apparent and Samaranch Jr., the son of former IOC President, who bore the same name, admits it is time to be realistic.

"When you lose by such a lot of votes, you shouldn't look at the details, but at the foundations of the project. I think a lot of IOC members looked at the economic situation in our country before they pressed their buttons. They saw our unemployment rate and we didn't give the guarantees they needed," he said, adding that "If Tokyo and Istanbul began from zero in the race, we started from much further back because of the economy."

Samaranch Jr. admitted he was taken aback by the huge distance in votes between Tokyo and Madrid (42-26).

"It was 16 votes difference and after speaking to people, I think that we could have maybe got three or four more if we had got through the first round, but on more. I always thought it was difficult, but not that the gap was so wide," he admitted, adding that it was a fair decision.

"They didn't rob the Games from us, they were never ours in the first place and the decision to give the Games to Tokyo was very reasonable, although we should have been able to have got past Istanbul," accepted Samaranch Jr..

Spain also gave a poor presentation on the day of the vote, failing to address issues of doping effectively when asked about the Operation Puerto doping scandal. Meanwhile the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella has come in for strong criticism and ridicule in her homeland for a poor speech given in classroom English.

Botella's phrase "you can enjoy a relaxing cup of cafe con leche in the Plaza Major," has become almost iconic in Spain and there are countless parodies of her speech on the internet and in social media.

Samaranch Jr., however, says the speech was not all Botella's fault.

"We all saw and practiced our speeches at least five or six times and we all thought they were good. So when they criticize the Mayor, I feel just as criticized as she is," he said.

Finally, Samaranch Jr. said he agreed it was time for Madrid to step out of the Olympic race for 2024 and commented that unless something was done, the failure to be granted the 2020 Games would provoke a financial crisis in many sectors of Spanish sport, which would have a negative effect on the country's results and future Olympics.

Posted in: Olympics

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