Give up on Japan's Olympics bid for Istanbul: Erdogan jokingly asks counterpart
13:49 ¢ 04.05.13
While Turkey and Japan took their economic partnership up a gear with
a nuclear deal worth $22 billion dollars, the heated race between
Istanbul and Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympics was also on the front
burner May 3, when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an hosted
his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Ankara, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.
During the press conference, Erdogan joked with the Japanese prime
minister saying that he had personally asked him to drop out of the
contest emphasizing the fact that Istanbul had never organized the
Summer Games whereas Tokyo had.
`Tokyo is our rival for the Olympics. But I told the prime minister
`You already organized the Olympics once. Drop from the race, let us
do this one, that would be convenient.' I believe that they will be
understanding and give the due instructions to Tokyo's mayor,' ErdoÄ?an
said amid generalized laughter. ErdoÄ?an added that Turkey was ready to
work with Japan for the Olympic Games. `Expo 2020 is also very
important to us and we asked for their support,' he said.
Abe responded to ErdoÄ?an that Japan would be the first country to
congratulate Turkey if Istanbul was to host the 2020 Summer Games. `We
also want our people to experience the excitement of the Olympics. If
Turkey wins, I want to be the first to congratulate it. If Tokyo is
selected, we wish that [ErdoÄ?an] will be the first to congratulate
us,' he said.
Abe also emphasized that both countries were complementary, using a
metaphor from the flags. `Japan is the sun, Turkey is the crescent and
the star. If you think about a day: If either the moon, the star or
the sun is lacking, we could not complete a day. I believe that both
countries need each other in the same way and that their partnership
will help realize big accomplishments.'
Spain's capital Madrid is also competing for the event along with
Tokyo and Istanbul. The International Olympic Committee will
officially decide the host of the 2020 Games in Buenos Aires in
September.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian
13:49 ¢ 04.05.13
While Turkey and Japan took their economic partnership up a gear with
a nuclear deal worth $22 billion dollars, the heated race between
Istanbul and Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympics was also on the front
burner May 3, when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an hosted
his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Ankara, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.
During the press conference, Erdogan joked with the Japanese prime
minister saying that he had personally asked him to drop out of the
contest emphasizing the fact that Istanbul had never organized the
Summer Games whereas Tokyo had.
`Tokyo is our rival for the Olympics. But I told the prime minister
`You already organized the Olympics once. Drop from the race, let us
do this one, that would be convenient.' I believe that they will be
understanding and give the due instructions to Tokyo's mayor,' ErdoÄ?an
said amid generalized laughter. ErdoÄ?an added that Turkey was ready to
work with Japan for the Olympic Games. `Expo 2020 is also very
important to us and we asked for their support,' he said.
Abe responded to ErdoÄ?an that Japan would be the first country to
congratulate Turkey if Istanbul was to host the 2020 Summer Games. `We
also want our people to experience the excitement of the Olympics. If
Turkey wins, I want to be the first to congratulate it. If Tokyo is
selected, we wish that [ErdoÄ?an] will be the first to congratulate
us,' he said.
Abe also emphasized that both countries were complementary, using a
metaphor from the flags. `Japan is the sun, Turkey is the crescent and
the star. If you think about a day: If either the moon, the star or
the sun is lacking, we could not complete a day. I believe that both
countries need each other in the same way and that their partnership
will help realize big accomplishments.'
Spain's capital Madrid is also competing for the event along with
Tokyo and Istanbul. The International Olympic Committee will
officially decide the host of the 2020 Games in Buenos Aires in
September.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian