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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.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L)  and his wife Emine Erdogan attend the women's qualification game Olympic basketball match between Turkey and Angola during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 28, 2012.  REUTERS/Luke MacGregor  (BRITAIN - Tags: POLITICS SPORT OLYMPICS BASKETBALL) - RTR35I0J

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.

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