Madrid reached the final three the last occasion that the IOC voted on a host for the Summer Games at its Session in Singapore in 2005 when they narrowly failed to pip London.

 

This time they are basing their bid on a strong financing package and having most of the infrastructure necessary to host the Olympics in place.

 

The 13-member IOC Evaluation Commission, headed by chairwoman Nawal El Moutawakel (pictured) and which also includes Britain's Sir Craig Reedie, has already visited Chicago, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro ahead of the decision which will be announced in Copenhagen on 2 October 2009.

 

Arriving from Brazil this morning, the members were greeted by an enormous model of the candidature’s logo in the Valdebebas Park. Using ecological paint and at 40m2, it is the largest example of a logo depiction used by the 2016 bid cities, and symbolizes the warmth of Spaniards and Madrileños.

 

The Madrid 2016 bid team will outline a compelling case for the city this week. bid leader Mercedes Coghen promised.

 

She said: “Madrid’s bid is completely financially guaranteed by the Government and hugely supported by the public, volunteers, commercial partners, government and the Royal family.

 

“The city has huge experience of hosting major sporting events with over 200 having been held in the city over the last ten years.

 

“Madrid’s bid is totally environmentally friendly and thoroughly prepared as the bid book submission showed.

 

“Madrid is a fabulous capital city with over seven million visitors every year and in 2016 the whole city will become an Olympic village."

 

The Mayor of Madrid, Mr Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, said: “Madrid, along with the whole of Spain, is passionate about sport.

 

"Our vision is to take the key values of sport and the Olympics and integrate them in to everyone’s daily lives across the city. We want the Games to leave a lasting legacy of these values both at home and abroad.”

 

“We hope to demonstrate this to the members of the Evaluation Commission this week as well as all that our great capital has to offer.”

 

The Commission will tour the proposed venues on Wednesday - over three quarters of which are already built or under construction.

 

Madrid 2016 and the Evaluation Commission will hold a press conference on Friday when the visit concludes.