Erdogan Wants the Olympics
Troubled at home and abroad, Turkey’s prime minister hopes for an Olympic win for Istanbul that can provide a much-needed antidote to his political woes.
The request lacked diplomatic tact, but then, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not exactly known for his savoir-faire.
At a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, May 3, Erdogan brought up the 2020 Summer Olympics, which Tokyo and Istanbul are both bidding to host.
“I told the prime minister that they should withdraw and let us host this one,” Erdogan said. “I believe the prime minister will appreciate our request and give the necessary instructions to the Tokyo governor.”
His words caused laughter in the room, but Erdogan was only half joking. Tokyo’s governor, Naoki Inosei, had recently apologized for his own inappropriate remarks regarding Turkey and Islamic countries. Erdogan hoped to take advantage of Inosei’s mistake by raising the issue during the signing of a $22 billion deal giving Japan the right to build a nuclear reactor in Turkey.
