Olympic officials in Istanbul are optimistic their shortcomings in transportion infrastructure, considered the weakest line in their Olympics bid resume, will be resolved if the city is awarded the opportunity to host the 2020 Games.
“In 2020, congestion-related problems will be reduced by 30 percent. We will do our best to avoid congestion,” deputy secretary-general in charge of transportation, Muzzafer Hacimustafaoglu, told reporters Tuesday.
“Our investment in public transportation will increase dramatically.”
Istanbul is trying to impress the IOC evaluation commission that’s in town to inspect the pros and cons of hosting an Olympics in their fair city, and thus, have set aside nearly $10 billion to develop roads and public transit, build a third bridge over the famous, Bosphorus which lies Europe and Asia, and throw in a seven lane subway tunnel as well.
All of which Istanbul hopes will boost its fifth bid for an Olympics, as they go against Tokyo and Madrid. The IOC will vote on which country will host during an IOC vote in Buenos Aires this September.
