Turkey's Istanbul Bids to Host 2020 Summer Olympics

Turkey's largest city Istanbul will apply to host the summer Olympic Games in 2020, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Saturday.

The cities that have already announced bids for the 2020 Olympics are the capitals of Japan, Italy, and Spain - Tokyo, Rome, and Madrid, with Qatar's Doha also considering a bid, and a slight chance that South Africa will put forth the city of Durban.

"We are here today to declare to the world our candidacy for the 2020 Olympic Games, which we consider extremely important for our country and people," Erdogan said in a televised address Saturday, adding, "We bid because we deem extremely important the sportive values and Olympics spirit that have a great contribution in establishing peace in the world."

In his words, Turkey is a perfect candidate to host the 2020 Olympics, because of its growing economy and investments in sports facilities.

Istanbul's bid will be Turkey's fourth attempt to get to host the summer Olympics, after the country has failed three times in that endeavor so far.

Candidates for the 2020 Olympics need to announce their bids by September. The Interational Olympic Committee will reveal the winner on September 7, 2013 in Buenos Aires.

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