The leaders of the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid today announced the 30 sponsors that have committed more than €12 million of support for the campaign. A business network comprising some of Spain’s biggest companies have joined forces to ensure the bid has the financial backing needed to win the competition to host the Olympics and Paralympics in 2016.
The main sponsors – those who have committed €1 million or more – have formed the Madrid Club 16. These companies, which include leading financial, commercial and construction businesses, are: Accenture, Caja Madrid, Garrigues, El Corte Inglés, ICC Group, Inmobilaria Espacio and Madrid Espacios y Congresos (Madrid Trade Fair).
Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, the Mayor of Madrid, highlighted the benefits that this funding would bring to the city.
“This is great news for everyone,” he said. “In the short term, these investments for the 2016 Olympics bid will help us to improve Madrid’s infrastructure and tourism facilities, as well as raising the city’s profile around the world. In the long term, today’s development is the beginning of a new relationship between Madrid and the business world.”
Mercedes Coghen, Chief Executive Officer of the Madrid 2016 bid, said that the announcement of the business network was crucially important.
She commented: “Today’s announcement highlights the truly integrated nature of our bid. We now have the business sector joining forces with 89% of the Spanish people who want Madrid to host the 2016 Olympics.”
The launch event took place at Madrid City Hall and was conducted by Estella Gimenez, who won an Olympics Gymnastics gold medal at Atlanta in 1996.
The event involved people from all levels of Spanish society, including leading cultural, political, business and sporting figures. One attendee was Juan Carlos Higuero, who competed in the 1500 meters at the Sydney and Athens Olympics.
“Today is a very important day for Madrid and for all sports people,” he said. “We all want our great city to host the Olympics in 2016. During the 1992 Barcelona Games I was 14 and just beginning my athletics career, but I was inspired by the other runners I watched on TV. Although I will probably have to watch the 2016 Games on TV too, I want to thank all the sponsors that are supporting Madrid’s bid and its underlying commitment in using sport to improve all aspects of peoples’ lives.”
Additional information about the Madrid 2016 sponsorship program
The Madrid sponsorship program is divided into four categories: Collaborators, Sponsors, Preferential Sponsors and Partners, with donation levels starting at €30,000 and rising to €1 million or more.
The Partners comprising Madrid Club 16 will participate in strategic planning for the 2016 bid, along with other partnership activities involving the city.
The Preferential Sponsors announced today are: Acciona, Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, Ferrovial, Grupo ACS, Grupo Mahou San Miguel, Grupo Sacyr Vallehermoso, IEPE, Mercamadrid and Repsol-Ypf, SA.
The Sponsors announced today are: Coarsa, Everis, Grupo Leche Pascual, Licuas and Grupo Ortiz. The collaborators are: Alcampo, Aldesa Construcciones, Elecnor, Race, Typsa, Uralita Sistema de Tuberias, Uría y Menéndez Abogados, Vías y Construcciones.