Spain
Martin Roberts in Madrid
Madrid is looking at London and hoping that the Spanish capital’s third consecutive bid will secure it the 2020 Olympics, providing a much-needed economic boost.
Bid organisers emphasise that Madrid already has in place 80 per cent of the sporting venues and 90 per cent of the infrastructure needed to hold the Games, and much of the rest will be privately financed. As an example, should Madrid beat Tokyo and Istanbul to stage the 2020 Games, athletes will compete in a new football stadium under construction by Atlético Madrid, the Primera Liga club.
Bidders also estimate that the Games would create 300,000 sorely needed jobs in a country where one in four are at present on the dole, and the