PARIS, Oct 30, 2012 (AFP) - Madrid winning the right to host the 2020 Olympic Summer Games would deliver just the boost that is needed as Spain battles against a gruelling recession, the bid leader Alejandro Blanco told AFP in an interview.
The 62-year-old, president of the Spanish National Olympic Committee, said in reply to those who query whether Madrid has the financial power to host the Games it was actually a very good reason to give Spain the Games for the second time in their history - Barcelona having hosted them successfully in 1992.
“The socio-economic situation in the country is a very good reason for investing and creating jobs and wealth to get the economy going again,” said Blanco.
“You also have to remember that the global economy has been so unstable that it's only now that we can see exactly where we are. But what's going to happen in 2020?”Blanco, a former judoka who was also president of the Spanish judo federation, drew a comparison with some host cities whose economies were stronger than Madrid's at the time they won the Games but who since have suffered serious economic harship.
“Some host cities were in a totally different economic situation when they were awarded the Games to when they actually delivered them,” he said.
“To my mind, it's not how you start that matters so much, but how you end.
“And the fact that Madrid already has about 80% of the necessary infrastructures in place - including the airport, ring roads and underground - is a solid guarantee of stability.
“Our investments will be reduced to the minimum. We also have the full support of the Spanish, regional and local governments and will travel the whole way with them hand in hand.”Blanco, whose Madrid bid is competing against Istanbul and Tokyo - the only one of the cities to have previously hosted the Games - said that a Madrid win would be a win for the country as a whole.
“Spain needs the Games more than ever,” he said.
“This is a strategic project for the country as a whole, not just the city, and we need joint projects that can bring us together.
“Private enterprise is committed to the Bid and sees it as a unique opportunity to breathe new life into the economy.
“The Games will attract investors, boost investment, create wealth and promote tourism.”Blanco, who is due to leave for a series of engagements over the next couple of months as he tries to sell his message to some of the 100-plus International Olympic Committee (IOC) members who will vote on the host city in Buenos Aires on September 7 next year, said the London Games proved his point about the economic benefits.
“The project does not come to an end in 2020.
“We have to look on it as a long-term initiative that will leave an incredible economic legacy for Spain.
“We only have to look at the UK, which came out of recession in the third quarter on the back of the Games. This is only the start of a long journey.” Blanco, who says he is driven on by a passionate belief that in winning they can build a new society, said victory would also give some much-needed hope to the youth of Spain, who presently are suffering from an unemployment rate of 52.34%.
“Our young people are the force that can revitalise our economy,” said Blanco.
“They need motivation and they need to know that they can get on in life.
“We've just conducted a nationwide survey on public support for the Bid, and the results showed that 90 percent of people aged under 25 back the project.
“Young people see the Games as a vital opportunity for development and progress in these difficult times.” Blanco added that the late Juan Antonio Samaranch, who modernised the IOC and the Olympic Games during his presidency from 1980 to 2001 turning it into the huge commercial entity it is now, would give his approval to the bid's campaign.
Samaranch, who died in 2010, gave a heartfelt speech for the last Madrid bid team at the 2009 vote in Copenhagen where they surprised many in finishing second to Rio de Janeiro.
“The path Juan Antonio Samaranch traced in the Olympic movement has been followed by the sports world as a whole,” Blanco said.
“He is a role model and wherever he is, he would be proud of the work we are doing.”

SYDNEY, Oct 30, 2012 (AFP) - Police were called to break up a fight between Australia's struggling number one tennis player Bernard Tomic and a male friend after a night of partying, reports said Tuesday.
Queensland state police said they attended a disturbance at Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, early Monday morning but no arrests were made or charges laid.
“We spoke to a couple of males and that was it,” a police spokesman told AFP.
According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, police “separated the two men before the tennis ace turned on officers”.
“He reminded police of 'who he was' and accused officers of running a hate campaign against him,” the newspaper said, citing police sources.
Tomic, who has not won a match since the second round in Bangkok more than a month ago, is no stranger to controversy, with a case related to alleged traffic offences due before a Queensland court in coming days.
Those charges stem from an incident in January when he was fined twice in the space of an hour as he drove his orange BMW M3.
Police allege he refused to stop when asked to pull over a third time.
The player, who turned 20 earlier this month, has also sparked controversy on the court, with John McEnroe accusing him of “tanking” in his US Open loss to Andy Roddick in late August.
Tomic's lawyer Chris Nyst told the Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper there was no suggestion his client had committed any offence in the latest incident.
“If there is, he certainly hasn't been charged or even questioned about it. So I'm really not sure what all the ruckus is about,” he said.

SYDNEY, Oct 30, 2012 (AFP) - South Africa bowling coach Allan Donald Tuesday called his country's current pace attack the best he has seen, as they fine-tune ahead of a three Test series against Australia.
Donald in his prime was one of the best fast bowlers ever seen in Test cricket, ripping through opposition batsmen with partner Shaun Pollock, but even he admitted the current crop was a league above.
“I would have to say that, yes,” Donald told reporters.
“I'm not just saying that, because I was part of an attack with Shaun Pollock and myself and a few others, and I say that humbly and respectfully, I think this is as good as it gets.” South Africa jetted into Australia Sunday aiming to consolidate their position as the number one Test team, which they earned in August with a series triumph in England.
Much pre-series media attention has centred on the quality of the South African pace attack, led by Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, and how Australia's top order will deal with them.
Donald, who terrorised opposition batsmen in the 1990s, said the South African bowlers' greatest asset was their ability to work as a group.
“They've been bowling together for quite some time,” he said.
“Momentum's been built over the past couple of years, consistency in selection and it's nice to have a group of guys that know what they're about.”Australian coach Mickey Arthur, himself a South African, acknowledged earlier this month that his top order batsmen face a “baptism of fire”.
“It's going to be about the batters,” Arthur said of the series.
“It is going to be about which top six can adapt better, which top six is going to be more consistent over the three Test series. I think both top sixes are in for a real baptism of fire.”Australia head to the first Test in Brisbane next week with Ed Cowan opening the innings alongside big-hitting David Warner.
They will be followed to the crease by Shane Watson and then 165-Test veteran Ricky Ponting, who is in fine touch, scoring 350 runs at an average of 125.00 in his last three first-class games.
Skipper Michael Clarke is expected to bat five and Mike Hussey six.
After a three-day warm-up against Australia A in Sydney from Nov.2, the Brisbane Test begins on Nov.9, the second at the Adelaide Oval on Nov.22 and the last on Nov.30 at the Waca in Perth.