Diplomatic Cable | IOC

[Jay]

Dışişleri Bakanlığı Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

AUTHENTIC COMMUNIQUE OF THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Security Clearance: Secure and Encrypted ŞİFRELEME KORUMASI: KAPLUĞA​

[Recipient]: John Coates, International Olympic Committee < Owen > [Sender]: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Türkiye < SBÇakıMOFA@tr.gov > [Subject]: Confidential // Diplomatic Relations

Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Türkiye, I am honored to convey our formal interest in bidding to host the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in the summer of 2008. Türkiye believes it is uniquely positioned to offer the Olympic Movement a host city and nation that embodies the ideals of unity, diversity, and global friendship. Situated at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, our country has for millennia been a crossroads of civilizations, a place where cultures, faiths, and peoples have converged. We see the Olympic Games not only as a celebration of athletic excellence, but as a bridge between continents, fostering understanding and cooperation in a region of vital importance to the world. We are aware that questions may arise regarding the potential impact of our current economic situation. Let me assure you that the Government of Türkiye is fully prepared to address any such concerns with transparency, detailed planning, and necessary guarantees. We are committed to working closely with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that the Games will be delivered to the highest standards of excellence, sustainability, and responsibility. Our seriousness in this endeavor cannot be overstated. We believe that hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Türkiye would not only be a triumph for sport, but also a catalyst for regional peace and prosperity, an opportunity to bring the world back to the cradle of civilization, where the spirit of human achievement has deep roots. In addition to our bid, Türkiye wishes to submit the nomination of Ms. Merve Çoban for the position of Vice President within the IOC. Ms. Çoban’s distinguished record in sports administration, her dedication to the Olympic values, and her vision for expanding the reach of the Games make her an ideal candidate to contribute to the leadership of the Olympic Movement. We look forward to engaging with you and your colleagues in the months ahead, and to demonstrating that Türkiye can offer the world an Olympic Games worthy of history and of the future. Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Regards, Sümeyye Boz Minister of Foreign Affairs Türkiye'

 

[Owen]

​

PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE​

15 April 2007

Dear Minister Boz, Whilst we appreciate your interest in bidding to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, frankly there is not enough global interest to have the Olympics be hosted. We have not had a successful games since 2000 in Sydney. None have been awarded since. Currently only Turkey and Australia (with Norfolk Island as an affiliate) are members of the International Olympic Committee and I am the only member of the executive board. We need a lot more members of the IOC and a full complement of the board in order to move forward with competitive bids for games. If you or the Turkish Government could garner more international interest in the Olympics, then perhaps we could move forward with it. I will see what the Australian Government can do, but I think they have other priorities. Yours sincerely, John Coates.

Level 4, 140 George Street, Museum of Contemporary Art, SYDNEY, NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 9247 2000​

Jay

 

[Jay]

Dışişleri Bakanlığı Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

AUTHENTIC COMMUNIQUE OF THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Security Clearance: Secure and Encrypted ŞİFRELEME KORUMASI: KAPLUĞA​

[Recipient]: John Coates, International Olympic Committee < Owen > [Sender]: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Türkiye < SBÇakıMOFA@tr.gov > [Subject]: Confidential // Diplomatic Relations

Dear Mr. President, Thank you for your candid response regarding Türkiye’s interest in hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. We fully understand the challenges you outlined, particularly the current limitations in IOC membership and executive capacity. However, we respectfully submit that one proactive measure to address this very issue is the formal announcement of Türkiye’s bid. By initiating the process and opening the door to international participation, we believe the IOC can catalyze renewed global interest in the Olympic Movement. A declared bid, especially one rooted in a compelling vision of peace, prosperity, and cultural unity, can serve as a rallying point for other nations to reengage. Türkiye is confident that if entrusted with hosting the Games, the outcomes would inspire others. The benefits, infrastructural, diplomatic, and symbolic, would be immense, not only for our region but for the Olympic ideal itself. With half a decade passing since the 2000 Olympics, it is our belief that this is the correct course of action to revitalize that spirit. We also wish to emphasize that while national governments play a supporting role, it is the International Olympic Committee that must lead this effort. The credibility and continuity of the Olympic Games depend on the IOC’s initiative and independence. We therefore urge the Committee to begin formalizing Türkiye’s bid, irrespective of the current climate, and to treat this moment as an opportunity to reinvigorate the Olympic spirit. Türkiye remains committed to working with you and your colleagues to advance this vision. We stand ready to assist in expanding IOC membership and to support the institutional steps necessary to move forward. Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Regards, Sümeyye Boz Minister of Foreign Affairs Türkiye'

 

[Owen]

​

PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE​

19 April 2007

Dear Minister Boz, Please outline your formal nomination, including which city you plan on hosting this in, the proposed dates, a proposed logo, who will be opening the games, who will be lighting the cauldron, your games motto, your mascots, your hopeful corporate sponsors and your proposed venues (including main Opening/Closing ceremony stadium). Our requirements is that it occurs over the summer period, that preferably the Head of State opens the games and that the opening and closing ceremony is held in a stadium with a large capacity. Previously, during the 2000 games, the Gustaf Royal Trust of Sweden allocated prize money to nations which finished first, second and third on the medal tally (Russia, Canada and Sweden, respectively). I am unsure if these arrangements will continue in 2008 and will need to be a discussion had with the Swedish Government. The IOC will guide you in the process of the games, if successful, and we reserve the right to create the calendar of events and determine the sports involved. Currently we are anticipating: Diving Marathon Swimming Swimming Synchronised Swimming Water Polo Archery Athletics Badminton Baseball Softball Basketball Boxing Slalom Canoeing Sprint Canoeing Road Cycling Track Cycling BMX Mountain Biking Equestrian Fencing Field Hockey Football Artistic Gymnastics Rhythmic Gymnastics Trampoling Gymnastics Handball Judo Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Shooting Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Beach Volleyball Indoor Volleyball Weightlifting Wrestling Please ensure you have venues capable of hosting all of these sports. Yours sincerely, John Coates.

Level 4, 140 George Street, Museum of Contemporary Art, SYDNEY, NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 9247 2000​

Jay

 

[Jay]

Dışişleri Bakanlığı Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

AUTHENTIC COMMUNIQUE OF THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Security Clearance: Secure and Encrypted ŞİFRELEME KORUMASI: KAPLUĞA​

[Recipient]: John Coates, International Olympic Committee < Owen > [Sender]: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Türkiye < SÇBoz@db.tr.gov > [Subject]: Confidential // Diplomatic Relations

Dear Mr. President, It is my great honor, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Türkiye, to submit our formal nomination of Istanbul as Host City for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Our vision, “Two Continents, One Flame”, will present to the world an Olympic Games staged across both Europe and Asia, symbolizing unity, heritage, and the enduring Olympic spirit. We have carefully aligned our proposal with the IOC’s requirements, ensuring full venue capacity and international-standard infrastructure. In addition to Istanbul, we request that permission be given for a handful of events to be played in İzmir for logistical reasons. Host City, Dates, Headliners, and Logos​ Element Proposal Host City & Concept İstanbul (primary hub on both European & Asian shores). Sailing: Sea of Marmara & Princes’ Islands. Rowing/Canoeing: Lake Sapanca (Sakarya). Gymnastics & preliminaries: İzmir (Universiade) Dates Proposal: Friday 25 July – Sunday 10 August 2008 (17 competition days). Opening Authority President of the Republic of Türkiye, in accordance with IOC preference. Opening/Closing Venue Atatürk Olympic Stadium (İstanbul) – 70,000+ capacity Torchbearer & Cauldron Lighting Naim Süleymanoğlu, triple Olympic champion weightlifter. Ceremonial Theme “Two Continents, One Flame” – Reference Art: Opening Ceremony to take place in the Bosphorus​ Motto Two Continents, One Flame Proposed Emblem Minimalist Bosphorus Bridge arc into a tulip-shaped flame, rendered in Turkish red; bridge towers form a crescent. Reference Art: Mascots Bosphor (dolphin) & Şıkkurt (wolf). Bosphor Şıkkurt Partners To be determined by IOC Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Regards, Sümeyye Boz Minister of Foreign Affairs Türkiye

Venue Location Event(s) Capacity Atatürk Olympic Stadium İkitelli, İstanbul Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Athletics (Track & Field), Football finals 74,753 (FIFA/IAAF certified) Abdi İpekçi Arena Zeytinburnu, İstanbul Basketball finals, Volleyball finals, Handball finals, Combat sports medal rounds 12,270 Ahmet Cömert Sports Hall Ataköy, İstanbul Boxing, Taekwondo, Wrestling preliminaries 3,500 Sinan Erdem Dome Ataköy, İstanbul Gymnastics finals, Basketball group matches 16,000 Halkapınar Sports Hall İzmir Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline Gymnastics; Volleyball preliminaries 10,000 Karşıyaka Arena İzmir Handball preliminaries, Table Tennis 5,000 Atatürk Volleyball Hall İzmir Volleyball preliminaries 6,000 İstanbul Olympic Aquatics Centre (temporary) İkitelli Olympic Park Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming ~15,000 (modular seating) İzmir Atatürk Swimming Complex / Narlıdere İzmir Aquatics training and warm-up 2,000 Bosphorus Strait Course Kanlıca → Kuruçeşme, İstanbul Marathon Swimming Open course (20,000+ shoreline spectators) Yedikule Gardens Archery Park Fatih, İstanbul Archery 5,000 (temporary tribunes) December 15 Martyrs Bridge & Historic Peninsula Finish İstanbul Marathon, Race Walks City course (100,000+ roadside capacity) Lake Sapanca Regatta Course Sakarya Province Rowing, Canoe Sprint 15,000 (modular) Alibeyköy Whitewater Centre (proposed new build) Alibeyköy Valley, İstanbul Canoe Slalom 8,000 Veliefendi Race Course Bakırköy, İstanbul Equestrian (Jumping/Dressage) 27,000 Belgrad Forest / Kemer Country Estate İstanbul Equestrian Cross-Country, Mountain Bike (XCO) ~15,000 distributed nodes Kadıköy Hockey Centre (new build) Kadıköy, İstanbul Field Hockey (2 water-based pitches) 8,000 main + 4,000 secondary Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium Kadıköy, İstanbul Football semifinals 50,509 BJK İnönü Stadium Beşiktaş, İstanbul Football group/knockout 32,145 Ali Sami Yen Stadium Şişli, İstanbul Football group stage 23,477 Maltepe Coastal Sports Park (temporary) Maltepe, İstanbul Baseball, Softball 10,000 (main), 5,000 (secondary) İstanbul Olympic Velodrome (new build) İkitelli Olympic Park Track Cycling 6,000 Olympic Park BMX Stadium (temporary) İkitelli Olympic Park BMX 5,000 Closed Coastal Corniche / City Streets İstanbul Cycling Road Races & Time Trials Open course (200,000+ roadside) Olympic Tennis Centre (new build, modular) İkitelli Olympic Park Tennis 10,000 Centre, 5,000 No.2, 12 outer courts Gülhane–Sarayburnu Temporary Stadium İstanbul Historic Peninsula Beach Volleyball 10,000 Golden Horn Pentathlon Park (multi-site) İstanbul Modern Pentathlon (Fencing, Swim, Equestrian, Laser-Run) 5,000 modular Caddebostan/Kalamış Marina & Princes’ Islands İstanbul Sailing Open water (10,000 shoreline) İstanbul Olympic Shooting Centre (new build) Çatalca, İstanbul Shooting (Trap, Skeet, Rifle & Pistol) 6,000 Haliç Congress & Sports Hall (temporary) Haliç, İstanbul Weightlifting 6,000 Metro Extension A dedicated Kirazlı–Bağcılar–İkitelli–Başak Konut/Olympic Village line will tie the Village directly into Istanbul’s rail network via Kirazlı station, improving access from central and suburban districts. Additionally, the Marmaray Rail Link Cross-continental service at Yenikapı and Üsküdar lets athletes reach the Historic Waterfronts and Asian Shore clusters with a single transfer. The Turkish Government and Istanbul Municipal Government will arrange High-frequency coach shuttles to circulate between the Village and all cluster venues, ensuring last-mile coverage and schedule reliability. Additionally, we have prepared for maritime express boat services along the Bosphorus link the Village to Kadıköy sailing and hockey venues, bypassing congested road arteries. With venues in the Olympic Park cluster within 1 km, the Village maximizes walkability for athletes and officials. This tight footprint reduces carbon emissions, security perimeters, and operational costs. Amenity/Facility Quantity Capacity/Notes Residential Buildings 60 21,420 beds Dining Halls 8 10,000 seats per meal Training Gymnasiums 2 500 athletes Medical Centre 10 100 beds; emergency & rehab Retail Outlets 60 20,000 daily users Media Centre 4 2,000 workstations Worship Centre 3 500 persons Postal Facility 1 10 000 items/day Banking/ATMs 12 24-hour service Transportation Hub 4 20 shuttle bays; metro link Security Posts 15 Full perimeter coverage Parking Spaces 5 000 Cars and team buses Power Substation 1 50 MW capacity Water Treatment Plant 1 10 000 m³/day processing