Madrid and Istanbul submit 2020 bids

Madrid and Istanbul have officially joined Rome in the race to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

The Madrid team will be hoping to make it third-time-lucky after failing in bids for the 2012 and 2016 Games. Although the city has the necessary infrastructure, with Spain still in economic crisis the bid will have to dispel any doubts about the country’s ability to host the Games. Successful bids from Rio, which is set to host the 2016 Games and PyeongChang which was awarded the 2018 winter Games last week, both came at the third attempt - a factor that could bode well for Madrid.     

Istanbul, meanwhile, had four consecutive bids turned down between 2000 and 2012. Speaking to ESPN, Turkey's sports minister Suat Kilic said: "Inshallah (God willing), we will bid and fulfill requirements to the letter. We are one of the rare countries that can shoulder the financial burden of the Olympics."

Tokyo is also reported to be on the verge of joining the race but with the deadline for initial applications to the International Olympic Committee still over six weeks away, several more cities are expected to submit bids. Tokyo last hosted the games in 1964 where they were broadcast internationally for the first time.

Tokyo is reportedly desperate to land the 2020 Games. Speculation suggests that Japan would like to stage the games as a symbol of recovery from the devastating earthquake that struck the country earlier in the year. Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda said: “'We want to help rehabilitate Japan through sports.”

The South African city of Durban has been mooted as a possible contender for the games after the recent success of the Fifa World Cup in South Africa. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge was recently quoted as saying that he would welcome an African bid. Although the South African government has ruled out the possibility of hosting the Games, speculation suggests that a bid may still be in the offing.

A further possible destination for the games is Doha. The Qatari capital, which hosted the 2006 Asian Games, is set to host the Fifa World Cup just two years later. With sporting infrastructure already being created for 2022, it is possible that the country could find themselves one step ahead of their rivals. 2016 hosts Rio managed exactly that feat after winning the 2014 World Cup.   

September 1st represents the start of what will inevitably be a long journey for the triumphant city. The games will be awarded to the successful candidate on the 7th of September 2013 at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Last week, PyeongChang secured the 2018 Winter Olympics with a landslide victory. The Korean city, the long-time favourites to land the event, received 63 votes whilst rivals Munich and Annecy received 25 and seven respectively.