Int'l Triathlon Union President and IOC member Marisol Casado "is one of three Spanish IOC members and is a pillar in the Madrid 2020 Olympic bid," according to Jiménez & Matilla of AS. Casado discussed the Madrid 2020 Olympic bid and also answered questions about the other finalists, Tokyo and Istanbul. The following is an excerpt from the Q&A:
Q: How important is it to have three Spanish IOC members instead of having only one, like Japan?
Marisol Casado: To convince the Olympic Family, having three members means tripling your possibilities. It is like convincing your family members. What I feel with the members is not the same as someone contracted to do this. There is no color. This is the key. If there is a breakfast for IOC members, leaders of the bids cannot be there. And here we are at three tables, chatting with everyone in private. These are the big advantages.
Q: What is the most decisive factor for the IOC?
Casado: Once the Evaluation Commission says that you are apt to host the Games you do not have to worry about the technical side. The second part is more difficult to control. What can have an influence? It can be the economy. And we resolved this well. But for me, the continental rotation has a lot of influence. If the Winter Games would have been in Munich, perhaps Madrid would not have applied to host to avoid interfering with future plans.
Q: What are your thoughts on Tokyo and Istanbul?
Casado: The Tokyo bid is very good. Istanbul, I believe that they need time and will be more prepared in 10 or 15 years. This happened to Madrid. I believe Istanbul is applying for the fifth time, but it is not offering anything new. It has to sell what it is and it has tried to do exactly the opposite.
Q: What do you not like to hear from IOC members?
Casado: I do not like it when I detect that someone I talk to does not know the subject or how it functions as a Federation. I like when people fulfill their principles and know what they are talking about. I like [IAAF VP and IOC presidential candidate] Sergei Bubka. Although he probably will not leave as president, he speaks profoundly (AS, 8/29).
