New York Gets Turkish Flavour thanks to Istanbul 2020 for Turkish Day

“This is a great opportunity to take Turkish culture to a foreign city and showcase Turkey’s famous warmth and hospitality internationally,” Istanbul 2020 Chairman Hasan Arat said. “Turkish culture already inspires over 30 million visitors to our country each year, with over 11 million visiting Istanbul alone. If we are awarded the honour of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, the Olympic family will experience the region and its people, our legendary hospitality and our passion for sport, for the very first time. Istanbul 2020 will be a bridge to a new culture for the Olympic Movement.”

Istanbul 2020 is one of the main sponsors of the 32nd New York Turkish Day Parade, as is Turkish Airlines, and will have a float on Madison Street 18 May. On Wall Street 17 May, Istanbul 2020 and Turkish flags will fly during the Turkish Flag Ceremony.

Istanbul is bidding against Madrid and Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. The International Olympic Committee will announce the Host City at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires in September.