The Madrid 2016 Olympic bid team, as well as the City Hall of Madrid, have been awarded the National Sports Prize 2008 by Spain’s Ministry of Sport, in recognition of the team’s outstanding contribution to sport through the initiatives set up for and promotional activity around the bid to host the 2016 Games.
Also this week Madrid 2016 got another boost. More than 25,000 volunteers have signed up in support of the bid, which Madrid 2016 says shows its “significant effect on members of the public”.
Mercedes Coghen, head of Madrid 2016 said, “it is an honour to be awarded this prize, and for our efforts to be recognized in this way. The principle motivation for Madrid to host the 2016 Games is to bring the value of sport and Olympism to our city, the people of Spain and the world as a whole. We have created programs to increase participation in sport and the benefits of our work will be long-lasting”.
She added, “we are inspired by sport and Olympism, so is the sporting establishment on the evidence of this award, and so too is the Spanish public. We have the highest rate of popular support at 92.6 per cent and now the highest number of registered volunteers with 25,000”.
