FEATURE: IOC believes in Madrid 2020 despite economic problems By Sebastian Fest, dpa

London (dpa) - Bad news about the Spanish economy comes every day, but some influential members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) think Madrid will go ahead with its bid to host the 2020 Olympics.

"I think Madrid is staying on," Puerto Rico‘s Richard Carrion, a key member of the IOC and very close to IOC president Jacques Rogge, told dpa.

"From what I hear, I think they will remain the course, there‘s no reason to doubt that," said Australia‘s Kevan Gosper, one of the most veteran members of the IOC.

Less influential, Aruba‘s Nicole Hoevertsz thinks the ongoing financial and economic crisis "is a factor" when the IOC chooses a bid to host the 2020 Olympics in September 2013 in Buenos Aires, but it may not be the only one as IOC members pick between Madrid, Tokyo and Istambul.

"They have a bid that is excellent, an excellent technical team. The economy is a factor, yes, but it‘s just one among many," Hoevertsz told dpa.

A decision is expected shortly whether Spain will seek a formal rescue package for its economy like those that Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus have received.

The weakness of the Spanish economy is a heavy burden for Madrid‘s Olympic bid. After losing the race for the 2012 and 2016 Games, the Spanish capital already has 75 per cent of the necessary facilities in place.

Rome, which also fielded an initial bid, withdrew it before the cut in May. Italy is also experiencing serious economic difficulties.

"It is an exceptional experience for me to see one city withdraw, but they withdrew before the final day. And that was clearly a financial decision," said Gosper, who knows the Madrid bid well.

"They have many facilities in place, they don‘t have to re-invent because they have bid three or four times before. They‘re well situated, they understand they can use temporary facilities, and they‘ve got a good infrastructure," he said.

The Australian is not bothered by recent front-page news on Spain in the Financial Times or the Wall Street Journal.

"That‘s up to them," he stressed. "I will be looking at Madrid, and Istanbul, and Tokyo, on the basis of whether they are in a position to host the Olympic Games."

Gosper has a theory: the Games are "still a very good injection of investment for a city and still a good long-term investment with public works."

Carrion agrees. He too thinks the Games are good for the host country.

"Last year, during a meeting of the IOC Executive in London, (British Sports) Minister Hugh Robertson told us something interesting: ‘Look, it hasn‘t been the worst thing in the world to be doing works of infrastructure in a downturn. That way we have got better prices and stimulated the economy‘."

Hoevertsz thinks it is impossible to predict what may happen at the election in Buenos Aires.

"Last time it was a little bit clearer where the votes were going. In this case I can‘t tell you anything, I cannot forecast anything," she said.

Carrion says it is important to make it through the first round, and then to get the second-choice vote. "Nobody is going to get a majority in the first round, that would really surprise me," he said.

Has the Puerto Rican decided who will get his vote? "I‘m married to a Spaniard, but the vote is secret," he said. dpa sef vs mis