Hasan Arat is in Paris. The head of Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Summer Games stopped off in the French capital, 39 days before the IOC vote for the Olympic city. A very French-speaking visit. FrancsJeux the encounter. Interview.

FrancsJeux : What is the reason for this visit to Paris?

Hasan arat : I am in Paris to explain our vision of the Olympic Games and our candidacy to the French and French-speaking people. Today we are at D – 39 before the final decision. Before Paris, I was in Barcelona for the World Swimming Championships, in London for a press conference, in Africa for the ANOCA General Assembly… I will soon go to Moscow for the World Athletics Championships, then to Nanjing for the Asian Youth Games, and finally the badminton and rowing world championships. I don't plan to spend more than one or two nights at home before the IOC General Assembly in Buenos Aires.

What are you focusing on during this final stretch?

On travel. I want to meet members of the IOC, leaders of international federations, representatives of the media. Each time, I explain our vision of the Games. Istanbul's candidacy is Turkey's fifth. But a lot has changed since the first. Today we are the 16th economy in the world, we will be the 10th in 2023. Since 2009, we have created 4,9 million new jobs. One in two inhabitants in Turkey today admit to being under 25 years old. When we first applied, Istanbul did not have a metro. Today, we have even already built the Olympic stadium station. A tunnel under the Bosphorus will be inaugurated in October 2013, it will allow you to reach both shores by train.

France has three IOC members, with Jean-Claude Killy, Guy Drut and Tony Estanguet. Does France have an interest in voting for Istanbul?

It's not up to me to answer. It's up to them to make their decision.

At this stage of the campaign, where will the difference be made?

To draw a parallel with a sporting competition, we are in the final, after having survived all the previous matches. This is the last step, the final meeting. The most important thing now is to show that we have confidence in our file and in our planning, that we can count on very strong support from the population and the public authorities. Above all, we must still explain, and repeat, that the Olympic movement will make history by choosing Istanbul.

Why?

By choosing our city, the IOC can open the door to the Games to a new culture and a new population. Istanbul is built on two continents. Never since its creation has the Olympic movement had the opportunity to see the Games held in such a location. The marathon, for example, will start from Asia and end in Europe.

French is the official language of the IOC. How is Istanbul’s candidacy French-speaking?

Turkish sport is very French-speaking. Currently, no less than 17 French-speaking players play in our team sports championships. Didier Drogba, for example. Or Isabelle Yacoubou, the French basketball player, who has just joined the Fenerbahçe club. We have always maintained very close ties with Africa. For example, Turkish Airlines serves 33 destinations in Africa daily.

Is the French-speaking world still influential within the Olympic movement?

Yes. She has lost none of her influence. I was able to see this again at the beginning of July, in Lausanne, during the presentation of the three candidacies to the IOC members.

Between Madrid and Tokyo, who did you fear the most?

I do not have to comment on the other two applications. The only thing I can say is that Istanbul's case is very strong. It is unique. And it is, by far, the most successful of all the application files ever presented by Turkey.

Are the chips decided, or can anything still happen, including on the day of the vote?

Anything can still happen. The presentation on election day will be important, perhaps even decisive. Ours will be special. Our entire team is preparing for it.

Will the election for the 2020 Games and the vote for the IOC presidency be linked? Will there be alliances?

No, I do not think so. The vote for the 2020 Games is about the future of the Olympic movement and the direction it wants to take. The choice of the next president is more of a “family” question, that of the big IOC family.