BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Two days before the vote to choose the host of the 2020 Olympics, officials for Istanbul’s candidacy bid answered press members’ questions in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.
Turkey’s National Olympic Committee President Ugur Erdener said Turkey has "zero tolerance" policy towards doping.
"Turkey now has a very aggressive anti-doping system. The lab will also be re-accredited by the World Anti-doping Agency this year," Erdener told journalists.
More than 30 athletes were banned by the Turkish Athletics Federation in August.
Turkish official Ugur Erdener said this was the result of the country’s new hardline stance and a previous lack of comprehensive testing.
Turkey's double European 100m hurdles champion Nevin Yanit was also banned for two years for drugs violations and Asli Cakir Alptekin, last year's women's Olympic 1,500 meters champion, was provisionally suspended in May for abnormalities in her "biological passport".
Turkish Doping Control center (TDKM) President Ahmet Basaran stressed that all the efforts made against doping have affected the candidacy process positively.
He said, "The increase in the number of athletes who were banned because of doping in Turkey should not be seen only as an ethic deterioration, but should be evaluated as rapid development on doping analysis."
- Athletes: It will be great to compete in Istanbul -
Turkey's National Olympic Committee President Ugur Erdener praised Istanbul's position to organize the event, saying "Istanbul hosted more than 40 big sports organizations within 7 years. The athletes, who attended these organizations, say it will be great to compete there. Istanbul has a magic, which enables athletes to move forward."
Turkey's national tennis player Cagla Buyukakcay and Gizem Girismen, the wheelchair archer - who won a gold medal at Beijing 2008 - were also at the press conference along with Ugur Erdener.
Cagla Buyukakcay stated that Istanbul 2020 had presented everything needed to maximize athletes' performances. She emphasized, "Athletes can focus on their job thanks to training venues near Olympic Village."
"Athletes spend around 80 per cent of their time in the Olympic Village or at training venues, so we have focused on placing facilities on their doorstep," Archer Girismen also told.
Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kilic also hopeful about the results of votes.
Speaking to press members in Buenos Aires, Kilic said, "Our desire is that Istanbul, which is bidding for the 5th time, is to be announced as the Olympic city for this time."
"Istanbul has the power and infrastructure to keep all promises it makes for Olympics," Turkish minister added.
Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas also departed for Argentina for the votes.
Before leaving for Buenos Aires he told press members, "We are ready and powerful this much for the first time. We think expectations are high for Istanbul with its historic background, its geography and its environment. We think we deserves this. Because we've worked hard."
- Turkey will see a massive increase on tourist numbers -
Basaran Ulusoy, President of The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) said, "The event will be source of motivation for Istanbul," adding "Turkey will see a massive increase on the numbers of tourists and the income of tourism."
- Olympics mean 5 million more tourists and $10 billion income -
"Hosting 2020 Olympics means 5 million more tourist to come to Istanbul and the event is said that $10 billion income will bring to Turkey" Alaeddin Babaoglu, Managing Director of Amplio Real Estate Investments, told AA.
The other candidate cities for the 2020 Olympics are Madrid and Tokyo.
The results will be announced on Saturday after a vote to elect the host city at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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