Theresa Zabell, CEO for International Relations at Madrid 2020, was in Rio de Janeiro, host city of the 2016 Summer Games, attending a conference where the three cities bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games, were encouraged to learn the lessons of the London 2012 Games.
But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the three cities, Madrid, Istanbul and Tokyo, should adapt their plans to the local conditions in the hope of surpassing the success of their predecessors.
Zabell, along with 500 participants in the conference, heard from London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe, CEO Paul Deighton and the IOC’s Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli, in an exchange of knowledge.
Zabell said, “we’re very grateful for the open manner in which the team from London have shared their experience. They haven’t hidden anything, in fact, they have gone even further, telling us how they would do things if faced with hosting the Games all over again.
“The talks from Lord Coe, Paul Deighton and Gilbert Felli were as inspiring as we expected. The cultural education, the torch relay, protocol, ticketing and many other areas in London were of the highest level. Without a doubt one of the main reasons for the success of this year’s Games was the organizing team”.
