Following a major launch attended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last August,.Istanbul have concentrated on compiling its Applicant City file, which is due to be delivered to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne on February 15.

"We have 50 to 60 people working on the File," said Erdener who is here attending the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

"We have been holding many meetings with the Government, the Mayor's office and Ministries. 

"We have a good team working on the bid and high-level foreign experts helping us."

Istanbul still have to officially appoint a campaign leader or unveil a bid leader but Erdener claims that does not mean they should not be taken seriously.

"We can't declare everything at this time," he said.

"The Prime Minister has already said that he strongly supports this candidature and the Government are giving us 100 per cent backing. 

"There is plenty of time for us to do everything."

Erdener was accompanied on his trip here by Hasan Arat, a former top-level basketball player who is now the vice-president of the NOTC and is the Government's choice to lead the campaign when they announce the full team.


"Istanbul 2020 will revitalise an entire generation's passion for the Olympic Movement," said Arat (pictured above centre with Erdener right).

"So much of the amazing economic, social, cultural and sporting development happening in Turkey right now is youth-driven, and we want to make sure that continues. 

"We are developing an exciting range of educational, entrepreneurial and training programmes, so that young people from all over the world can play their part in Games delivery and in realising its sustainable legacy."

This is Istanbul's fifth campaign to win the Olympics having failed in bids for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games.

But Erdener warned that its rivals Baku, Doha, Madrid, Rome and Tokyo should expect a stronger campaign on this occasion.

"This time everything is different," he said.

"We have learned from our mistakes of the past."

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