Madrid should have listened to me, insists Samaranch

Published on Monday 5 October 2009 22:52

MADRID did not heed Juan Antonio Samaranch's advice when it came to entering the race for the 2016 Olympics, the former International Olympic Committee president has said.

Samaranch, who presided over the Olympic body from 1980 to 2001, said Madrid was handicapped by an impressive Rio de Janeiro bid and by the games going to London in 2012. "Madrid worked very well but Rio did better. They had everything," Samaranch said.

"What hurt Madrid the most was the repeat of the continent and, secondly, a lot of Europeans didn't vote for Madrid because they were already thinking about presenting in 2020 or 2024."

The Italian Olympic Committee has already announced it will present Rome or Venice as a candidate city in 2020.

Rio beat Madrid for the right to host the Summer Games soundly in the final vote at Copenhagen on Friday. Tokyo and Chicago went out in prior rounds.

"I gave my opinion at the time but when the majority wanted to go for it in 2016, all I could do was help as much as I could," said the 89-year-old Samaranch.

Samaranch did not give an answer when asked if he would back a Madrid bid for 2020 because, "I won't be in this world."

Samaranch asked IOC voters to consider his age and award Madrid the games during the Spanish capital's presentation.

"I planned to ask this favour of my friends," Samaranch responded when asked if it was an impromptu wish or a planned request.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Petrucci, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), believes the decision to award the 2016 edition to Rio has made it more likely the Games will return to Europe in 2020. Speaking after the mayors of both Rome and Venice confirmed their intentions to bid for the Olympics in 11 years' time, Petrucci said: "I've spoken about it with the Italian IOC members, who are always influential in terms of numbers and prestige. The time has come for an Italian bid for the 2020 Games."

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno said: "The choice of Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games offers a big opportunity to Italy and Rome for the next edition in 2020."