Madrid - An International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission delegation arrived Monday in Madrid to examine the city's possibilities of hosting the 2016 summer Olympic Games. The delegation, headed by former Moroccan athlete Nawal El Moutawakel, arrived in the Spanish capital after visiting its competitors Chicago, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
Madrid was "prepared" to organize the Olympics, mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said, stressing that 77 per cent of the Olympic infrastructure had already been or was being built.
Madrid already bid for the 2012 Olympics, which were awarded to London.
Madrid is stressing the short distances between the competition venues, its good traffic links and its environmentally friendly approach to the Olympics.
The city is trying to solve problems it has been criticized for, such as airport and car noise affecting the Olympic installations, and the shortage of hotel beds which are due to be increased to 80,000.
The city is pinning hopes on the influence of Spanish former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, whose son Juan Antonio Samaranch expressed concern that US President Barack Obama's popularity and influence could act in Chicago's favour.
"If Obama comes and says: 'I as president of the United States, will make the federal government... guarantee that everything is in place and that the athletes will be well... Just imagine," Samaranch, who is a member of the IOC, told German Press Agency dpa.
The evaluation commission, which will begin its inspection on Tuesday, was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and to be received by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
About 10,000 police were providing security during the visit for fear of attacks by the militant Basque separatist group ETA.
The host city of the 2016 Olympics will be announced on October 2.
Madrid was "prepared" to organize the Olympics, mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said, stressing that 77 per cent of the Olympic infrastructure had already been or was being built.
Madrid already bid for the 2012 Olympics, which were awarded to London.
Madrid is stressing the short distances between the competition venues, its good traffic links and its environmentally friendly approach to the Olympics.
The city is trying to solve problems it has been criticized for, such as airport and car noise affecting the Olympic installations, and the shortage of hotel beds which are due to be increased to 80,000.
The city is pinning hopes on the influence of Spanish former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, whose son Juan Antonio Samaranch expressed concern that US President Barack Obama's popularity and influence could act in Chicago's favour.
"If Obama comes and says: 'I as president of the United States, will make the federal government... guarantee that everything is in place and that the athletes will be well... Just imagine," Samaranch, who is a member of the IOC, told German Press Agency dpa.
The evaluation commission, which will begin its inspection on Tuesday, was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and to be received by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
About 10,000 police were providing security during the visit for fear of attacks by the militant Basque separatist group ETA.
The host city of the 2016 Olympics will be announced on October 2.
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