mayor going through such an event, the fact that the whole world watched saddens me. How will we explain it? With what claims will we host the 2020 Olympic Games?" Istanbul 2020 released a statement saying that "despite these recent events, all sections of Turkey remain united in our dream to host our nation’s first-ever Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020." IOC President Jacques Rogge stated that these events would not negatively impact the city's bid. IOC Presidential Candidate Thomas Bach also stated that he did not believe that these events would hurt the bid. The President of the NOCT, Uğur Erdener stated that these events would strengthen the bid. Turkey Daily Press reported that an anonymous IOC member from Europe stated that the protests which have seen police brutality against peaceful protesters was a "big blow" to Istanbul's bid. The 2020 IOC Evaluation Commission Report on the Candidate Cities for the 2020 Summer Olympics was released on June 25. Istanbul 2020 gave a presentation of their bid to the IOC at an Extraordinary session in Lausanne in July 2013. Mersin hosted the 2013 Mediterranean Games from June 20 to June 30, 2013. Turkey hosted the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup from June 21 to July 13, 2013. 125th IOC Session The host city of the 2020 Summer Olympics was elected at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 7, 2013. Tokyo competed against Madrid and Istanbul in the election and finished second with Tokyo ultimately being elected as the host city. Outlook, Conclusion and Future Istanbul's bid was considered to have been damaged by the 2013 protests in Turkey, doping scandals as well as the 2011 Turkish football corruption scandal. Following Istanbul's failure to secure the 2020 Olympics, Turkey launched a bid to host the semi-finals and final of UEFA Euro 2020 at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium. Previous bids Turkey has yet to host an Olympic Games. Istanbul has made four previous bids for the Summer Games. The city was a candidate for the 2000 Games which were awarded to Sydney. It bid again for 2004, which were held in Athens, but failed to become a candidate city. It became a candidate for 2008 but lost to Beijing. The Turkish city's most recent bid was for the 2012 Games but it failed to become a candidate. London was awarded the 2012 Games. Overview Istanbul hosted the