Istanbul 2020 Announces Major Influx of Sponsors

Seven of Turkey’s largest companies have agreed to sponsor Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 Olympics worth in excess of $20 million.

The deal was signed following a private dinner hosted in Istanbul by Suat Kiliç, Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports. Senior figures from each of the new partners met last week at the Prime Minister’s working office and reception hall in the historic Dolmabahçe Palace, overlooking the Bosphorus strait. The seven Istanbul 2020 National Sponsors are: Digiturk; Doğuş Holding; Koç Holding; Sabancı Holding; Turkcell; Turkish Airlines; and Ülker. These companies are among the most significant players in Turkey’s increasingly powerful economy, which experts predict will be the fastest growing in the OECD between 2011 and 2017. The combined sponsorship agreement is the largest private sector investment in any sports bid in Turkey’s history.

Hasan Arat, leader of the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee, regards the deals as a critical milestone in the campaign: “Turkey is one of the most fertile economic environments in Eurasia, and these seven companies typify the innovation, drive and tireless pursuit of excellence that have got us here. Our new National Sponsors bring with them an enormous amount of expertise and experience across a wide range of sectors and their input will be crucial as the campaign progresses. This is the most powerful alliance between the sports community, the business community and every level of government we have ever had here in Turkey. That is why Istanbul 2020 is better placed than ever to deliver an Olympic and Paralympic Games of outstanding technical quality: now we are ready to take on the responsibility of hosting the greatest sporting event on the planet.”

Ugur Erdener, IOC member and President of the Turkish NOC, added: “Istanbul and Turkey have had the dream of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games for over 20 years. Now, for the first time, we have the expertise and the capacity to make our dream a reality. Istanbul hosted 12 major international sports events last year alone, and we proved that we are ready to provide the optimal conditions for all client groups. The passion for bringing the Games to Turkey for the first time is enormous – this powerful group of National Sponsors will help us harness it.”

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