Madrid Olympic bid buoyed by public support

MADRID (AP) -Buoyed by strong public support numbers, the organizers for Madrid's 2016 Games bid on Thursday looked to persuade the International Olympic Committee's evaluation team that its nearly completed infrastructure left it best positioned of the four candidates to weather the current economic crisis.

Organizers revealed that a survey undertaken by the IOC in February showed public support levels for the bid remained high, with 86 percent of Spaniards and 85 percent of Madrid residents wanting to see the Olympics in the Spanish capital.

Organizers said the figure was higher than four years ago, when Madrid lost out to London for the 2012 Games.

"We are suffering like all the countries around the world but we are optimistic,'' bid leader Mercedes Coghen said. "I think the crisis will pass but they also will find the Olympics can be a new time to take new jobs and get out from this situation.''

Tokyo has not made the IOC survey figures public yet, but claims its own polls put support at around 70 percent.

Fellow rivals Chicago and Rio de Janeiro have also not released their figures, which will be unveiled in a full bid assessment on Sept. 2.

Spain has been badly hit by the current economic crisis, with an European Union-high unemployment figure of 17.4 percent, and is expected to hit 20 percent next year.

Organizers said the crisis does not present a danger to a budget that will top $5.6 billion (?4.4 billion).

"I don't think our economy will be the factor that differentiates us from Tokyo, Chicago or Rio de Janeiro. Our bid is characterized by vitality and security,'' Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. said. "Here you can have a games with or without crisis because there is one tremendous and concrete argument: in this country, the majority of the investments have already been made.''

Madrid already has 77 percent of its infrastructure completed and the Spanish government has guaranteed to cover any budget deficits.

Madrid organizers also outlined favorable tax exemptions for the organizing committee, and said sponsors will also receive large tax breaks on advertising expenses.

Madrid's pitch was made to 12 IOC members instead of 13 after chairwoman Nawal el Moutawakel had to return Wednesday to an urgent matter in Morocco, where she is sports minister. El Moutawakel is expected to be back for the final day on Friday.

Madrid organizers said they were "completely confident it will have no impact on the success of the IOC visit.''

The full IOC will vote on the host city on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen.