Winning the right to hold the 2016 Olympic Games would be the perfect way to celebrate the sporting achievements of a new generation of Spanish sportsmen, according to sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky.

"Spain is enjoying great success in collective sports like basketball, volleyball, hockey and water polo," Lissavetzky told Reuters in an interview. "We have a series of emerging figures in motorsport like (Fernando) Alonso, (Dani) Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo.

"In tennis we've got Nadal, the world number two who has made a huge impact in the media, and we've got three players in the top 10. We are successful at European level in athletics and...we've had the last two winners of the Tour de France in Oscar Pereiro and Alberto Contador.

"In football the national team seems to be improving too. The clubs are amongst the best in Europe and of course football is still the king of sports in Spain.

"We just need that icing on the cake of Spain winning or getting to the final of a big tournament."

Spain has won 72 percent of all its Olympic medals at the last four summer Games and the country's Olympic Committee (COE) believes they could exceed the record haul of 22 they achieved at Barcelona in 1992 when they compete in Beijing next year.
"Our whole strategy is designed to ensure that the Beijing Olympics are the best in the history of Spanish sport," he said.

FITTING REWARD

For Lissavetzky, earning the right to hold the Olympic Games for a second time in their history would be a fitting reward for the recent successes of Spanish sport.

Madrid was edged out by London in the bid to hold the 2012 Olympics but the Spanish capital has already declared its intention to run for the 2016 Games and Lissavetzky is optimistic that this time it will win.

"When you enter a race you do it because you believe you can win," he said. "I don't know if I'm too subjective but I think we have a real chance of getting the Olympics".

"Some people say because London have got the Games in 2012 then Europe won't get them again in 2016 but nowhere is it written down that this is the case.
"Madrid was close to winning in 2012 and we have improved on the bid. I think we have a very solid candidature."

Madrid will be up against bids from Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Doha, Prague and Baku. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose the 2016 hosts in October 2009.

"Over 90 percent of Madrilenos want the Games to be here," said Lissavetzky. The candidature is a mixture of audacity and ambition. It has the unanimous support of all political groups in the local council and it is clear Madrid really wants the Olympics.

"I come from Madrid and I know how much it has suffered in the past, but now we are at the forefront of developments. Madrid deserves a reward like the Olympics."