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The race to host the Olympic Games in 2020 has already started.
It is eight months until the host city for the Games is decided by a secret ballot and
the three cities hoping to succeed have submitted their bids.
Leaders from Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo have handed over their documents at the IOC's headquarters
in Switzerland.
The Turkish city of Istanbul is bidding for the Olympics for a fifth time.
Bid leader and former basketball player, Hasan Arat believes that Istanbul possesses a unique
selling point.
"I am very proud to be here today as an old athlete. It was a big pride for me to represent
my country (and) my city for this period. Istanbul is ready to host the games. Istanbul
is a unique city when you compare with the other candidates. We have both continents
(Asia and Europe) ready to host the athletes and the spectators."
The IOC will visit the candidate cities in March to prepare a report for a meeting with
the bidders in Switzerland in July.
The three cities will then have to wait until September 7th, when a final decision will
be made in Buenos Aires.