Arat and the rest of the Istanbul team have settled into an "Olympic training camp" as they hone the final stages of their plan to defeat rivals Tokyo and Madrid and bring the Games to Turkey for the first time.

"This is our Olympic Games, so just like an Olympic team we are taking the time to acclimatise to new surroundings, bond with our team-mates and fine-tune our strategy for the main event next week," Arat said.

"For more than 20 years hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games has been one of Turkey's deepest ambitions, and we have the whole country right behind us.

"We know we have an excellent bid and we are confident that this is Turkey's time to welcome the Olympic Movement and connect it with new, fresh audiences."

Istanbul 2020 Chairman Hasan Arat is full of confidence after arriving in Buenos Aires ahead of the host city vote


The 2020 bid marks Turkey's strongest opportunity to host the Games after four failed attempts in the past.

Part of their appeal lies in the fact that it will be one the most accessible Games ever in a new part of the world, it is claimed.

The announcement that bid sponsor Turkish Airlines will expand their network of flights – which at over 90 countries is already the largest of any airline - to include Kathmandu in Nepal has been cited as further evidence of this.

With news such as this helping to build momentum Arat has insisted that he does not feel any pressure but only "great excitement" ahead of the decision being made here at the International Olympic Committee Session on September 7.

"We have big plans for Buenos Aires," he insisted.

"We are in a tight three-way race, but we believe we can win the gold medal for Turkey.

"Very soon we will be telling the world our full team for the 125th IOC Session – so watch this space!"