Argentina, where the 2020 Olympic host site will be announced on Sept. 7, "is also winking at Spain," according to Matilla & Jiménez of AS. The Association of Hispano-Argentina Professionals (AHAP) sponsored a 10K race on Monday with this slogan: "Buenos Aires runs for Madrid 2020." The race, which had 1,500 participants, began and ended in "the emblematic Plaza de Mayo, which is close to the Spanish embassy." The AHAP is associated with the Association of Young Spanish Descendents in Argentina (AJDERA) and organized the annual race for the fourth time, "this time dedicating the event to Madrid 2020." The race was "more than a competition, it was a recognition of the culture, cuisine and tradition of Spain." On July 4, Buenos Aires "beat out Glasgow and Medellín, Colombia for the right to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, with all three Spanish IOC members voting for Buenos Aires." The support "will be returned by Argentine Olympic Committee President Gerardo Werthein, who will vote for Madrid and try to influence the the rest of the South American voters" (AS, 8/20).
TWITTER SUPPORT: The EFE reported the Madrid 2020 bid wanted to fill Twitter with support for Madrid on Tuesday afternoon. The proposal was to "fill Twitter with messages" using the hashtag #QueremosJJOOenMadrid ("We want the Olympics in Madrid"). The scheduled time was at 8:20pm on Tuesday, Aug. 20, "a day and time charged with symbolic meaning for all those that wanted to share their desire to enjoy the Games in Madrid in 2020." To reach a worldwide audience, "there will also be a version of the hashtag in English: #WeWanttheOGinMadrid" (EFE, 8/20).
