LONDON, ENGLAND - Istanbul is to bid yet again for the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, this time for the 2020 edition a Turkish Government sports official confirmed here on Wednesday at the Sports Event
Management Conference.

Mehmet Atalay expressed his confidence that it would be a case of fifth time lucky for the city after unsuccessful bids for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 renewals and who opted not to bid for the 2016 Games which was won lastmonth by Rio de Janeiro.

"We strongly believe that we are going to have the best bid for 2020," said Atalay.

"Istanbul has changed a lot and we feel much more confident to be in a race with other cities.

"Turkey is a big country and it has much potential for hosting such events. We have the history. We have the culture. We are the bridge between Europe and Asia."

Turkey has recently hosted high profile sports events such as the 2005 Champions League final and is set to stage the 2010 World Basketball Championships, 2011 Winter University Games and 2012 World Indoor Athletics
Championships.

Senior Turkish officials have travelled the world to learn what was needed to be competitive for an Olympic bid.

Atalay insisted that Istanbul's infrastructure had improved immeasurably in recent years and that it was a much more ecologically friendly city than in the past - two factors that in theory plays well with the febrile and unpredictable IOC electorate.

"Infrastructure-wise, Istanbul has improved a lot. Transportation has improved. Weather pollution is almost finished. It's one of the most secure cities in Europe. We are getting experience at organizing major events," he said.

Istanbul are likely to face tough opposition with Tokyo - beaten into third for the 2016 Games - contemplating running again and Dubai also mulling over bidding - though fellow Gulf state Qatar were humiliatingly not even selected for the short list for the 2016 renewal.

Sports Event Management is considered a key event for representatives of national and international sports governing bodies, specialist event management companies, local authorities, stadium and facility owners and operators, media companies, sports marketing agencies and the companies who provide the technology, infrastructure and services which make events operate efficiently. --AFP