Istanbul has been a physical and philosophical bridge for millennia. The needs of the city and the capacity of the nation have never been more closely aligned with the demands of hosting the Games and the vision of the Olympic Movement. If Istanbul was to host the Games, for the first time in Olympic history the world’s premier event would be staged in a country where 50 percent of the population is under-25. The region’s first Olympic and Paralympic Games will have an unparalleled impact on the social development of the young generation: the greatest benefit of all for Turkey, the region, and the Olympic Movement.