17th Mediterranean Games Open in Mersin
Istanbul 2020 delivery agency, TOKI, completes preparations in just 18 months
Mersin, Turkey; 20 June 2013: The 17th Mediterranean Games was launched in spectacular fashion in Mersin today as the Opening Ceremony marked the beginning of the largest ever Mediterranean Games, after the Turkish hosts successfully completed all preparations in just 18 months.
Twenty-five thousand spectators gathered to watch the Opening Ceremony in the brand new Mersin stadium – one of 38 newly built or renovated venues delivered by TOKI. TOKI, the powerful delivery agency that would be responsible for the construction of all Istanbul 2020’s Games venues, successfully compressed a six-year construction programme into just 18 months, after Mersin stepped in to replace the Greek city of Volos less than two years ago. Mersin 2013 is set to be the biggest Mediterranean Games in history, with a record participation of around 6,000 athletes from 24 countries.
President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, Professor Uğur Erdener, said:
“Watching the Opening Ceremony today demonstrated how much this country can achieve when we are united behind a common goal. In just 18 months, TOKI has delivered what would normally take six years to deliver. TOKI has a proven track record, building 60,000 houses a year — the equivalent of an Olympic Village every quarter. With TOKI’s proven expertise and the finance and governance guarantees provided by our Olympic Law, the Olympic family can be assured that if Istanbul is awarded the honour of hosting the 2020 Games, we will deliver technically excellent venues on schedule in an environmentally responsible way.”
The event comes during a busy time in Turkey’s sports calendar: just last week, Turkey hosted Stage 2 of the Archery World Cup and the ITU European Triathlon Championships which both finished on Sunday in Antalya and Alanya respectively. Tomorrow, the FIFA Under-20 World Cup will kick-off in Turkey with the opening matches, in Istanbul and Kayseri, reinforcing the country’s increasingly prominent position in the world of sport.
Professor Erdener added:
“Hosting the 17th Mediterranean Games here in Turkey adds to our ever increasing pool of experience and expertise in hosting major sporting events. In the last seven years, Turkey has hosted over 40 major international events, with Istanbul hosting 12 last year alone. The Mediterranean Games provide us with yet another opportunity to refine our offering to the NOCs and their athletes and ensure that Istanbul 2020 honours its commitment to providing the most comprehensive NOC solution and support package.”
--ENDS--
Notes to Editors:
For more information on the Mediterranean Games and the FIFA Under 20 World Cup please see four articles from the Daily Hurriyet News below:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mediterranean-games-a-rehearsal-for-2020-olympics-turkish-pm.aspx?pageID=238&nid=49197&NewsCatID=371
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mersin-sees-worldwide-record-of-development.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49092&NewsCatID=486
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/city-gets-54-facilities-in-11-months.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49124&NewsCatID=486
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/future-stars-to-shine-at-fifa-u-20-world-cup.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49112&NewsCatID=365
For more information, please contact the Istanbul 2020 media team:
media@istanbul2020.com.tr
Alternatively, find us online at www.istanbul2020.com.tr
on Twitter: @istanbul2020TR
or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Istanbul2020
Mersin, Turkey; 20 June 2013: The 17th Mediterranean Games was launched in spectacular fashion in Mersin today as the Opening Ceremony marked the beginning of the largest ever Mediterranean Games, after the Turkish hosts successfully completed all preparations in just 18 months.
Twenty-five thousand spectators gathered to watch the Opening Ceremony in the brand new Mersin stadium – one of 38 newly built or renovated venues delivered by TOKI. TOKI, the powerful delivery agency that would be responsible for the construction of all Istanbul 2020’s Games venues, successfully compressed a six-year construction programme into just 18 months, after Mersin stepped in to replace the Greek city of Volos less than two years ago. Mersin 2013 is set to be the biggest Mediterranean Games in history, with a record participation of around 6,000 athletes from 24 countries.
President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, Professor Uğur Erdener, said:
“Watching the Opening Ceremony today demonstrated how much this country can achieve when we are united behind a common goal. In just 18 months, TOKI has delivered what would normally take six years to deliver. TOKI has a proven track record, building 60,000 houses a year — the equivalent of an Olympic Village every quarter. With TOKI’s proven expertise and the finance and governance guarantees provided by our Olympic Law, the Olympic family can be assured that if Istanbul is awarded the honour of hosting the 2020 Games, we will deliver technically excellent venues on schedule in an environmentally responsible way.”
The event comes during a busy time in Turkey’s sports calendar: just last week, Turkey hosted Stage 2 of the Archery World Cup and the ITU European Triathlon Championships which both finished on Sunday in Antalya and Alanya respectively. Tomorrow, the FIFA Under-20 World Cup will kick-off in Turkey with the opening matches, in Istanbul and Kayseri, reinforcing the country’s increasingly prominent position in the world of sport.
Professor Erdener added:
“Hosting the 17th Mediterranean Games here in Turkey adds to our ever increasing pool of experience and expertise in hosting major sporting events. In the last seven years, Turkey has hosted over 40 major international events, with Istanbul hosting 12 last year alone. The Mediterranean Games provide us with yet another opportunity to refine our offering to the NOCs and their athletes and ensure that Istanbul 2020 honours its commitment to providing the most comprehensive NOC solution and support package.”
--ENDS--
Notes to Editors:
For more information on the Mediterranean Games and the FIFA Under 20 World Cup please see four articles from the Daily Hurriyet News below:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mediterranean-games-a-rehearsal-for-2020-olympics-turkish-pm.aspx?pageID=238&nid=49197&NewsCatID=371
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mersin-sees-worldwide-record-of-development.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49092&NewsCatID=486
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/city-gets-54-facilities-in-11-months.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49124&NewsCatID=486
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/future-stars-to-shine-at-fifa-u-20-world-cup.aspx?pageID=238&nID=49112&NewsCatID=365
For more information, please contact the Istanbul 2020 media team:
media@istanbul2020.com.tr
Alternatively, find us online at www.istanbul2020.com.tr
on Twitter: @istanbul2020TR
or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Istanbul2020