Mercedes Coghen, the General Director of Madrid's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, said on Saturday that the Spanish capital is doing everything possible to be elected.
The host for the 2016 Games will be named in Copenhagen in nine days and Coghen has been busy in the run in to such an important date.
"I have spoken to every member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), except the ice-hockey player Koivu. I couldn't see him because he wasn't in Beijing when we were," she said in an interview with sports paper Marca.
Coghen admitted that her work was all but done, as most of the IOC delegates have already decided their votes.
"I have only met two or three people who are waiting until the last minute, although there are more who are not so certain what they will do in a second round of votes," she assured.
Madrid is not the favorite to be chosen for several reasons: partly because Barcelona held the games in 1992, just 20 years ago, while London is to host the 2012 Games and the IOC is unlikely to return to Europe for 2016.
Chicago, the hometown of the United States President Barack Obama is expected to be among the front runners along with Rio de Janeiro. Obama is rumored to be appearing in Copenhagen, but Coghan is not worried his possible presence may sway the vote.
"I am not scored of that or anything like it. Obama has always been in the background, although it appears he will be there to back the candidacy on October 2."
"That is neither better not worse for us, what we have to do is have faith in our team," said Coghan.
"We have been dreaming for eight years. We have seen urban development and improvements in the evaluation of Spain and of our sportsmen and women in other countries. We have gained the support of different Federations and held events in Spain."
"This project has served to bring people together and we have dedicated many, many hours, both in body and in soul," she assured.
(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2009)
