Madrid 2016 bid organisers head to Beijing for inspiration

MADRID: The organisers for Madrid’s 2016 Olympic bid are headed to Beijing looking for inspiration and networking opportunities in the hopes of boosting the city’s chances of becoming a host city. The Spanish candidate wants the country’s athletes, federations, organisers and fans in China to help advertise Madrid as a deserved candidate for 2016. Madrid officials are also looking for creative sparks and ideas during the Aug 8-24 Games, although bid chief Mercedes Coghen said it was important not to borrow too much from the Chinese. “Every country and every Games has its own personality, just like people,” Coghen said on Friday. “We don’t want to copy (Beijing) and to copy the installations, I think that would be impossible. You have to bring your own personality.” Madrid is competing against Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo... [read full story]