Two-time Olympic silver medalist and basketball champion Pau Gasol spoke at a news conference on Thursday in Buenos Aires to support his country’s bid for Madrid to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee will vote by secret ballot on Saturday in the Argentine capital.
Madrid is competing with Istanbul and Tokyo.
All three cities face great challenges.
The economic crisis in Spain is questioning its ability to provide for the event, the next-door Syrian civil war provokes security concerns in Turkey and the Fukushima nuclear plant water leaks haunt Japan.
The Spanish Olympic Committee has until 7 September to campaign for Madrid to host the 2020 Summer Games.
Gasol also commented on rumours that Lakers team-mate Lamar Odom has recently checked in to a rehabilitation centre.
“We’ve put in a lot of effort, we will do everything in our power until the last minute for Madrid to be chosen Saturday and more than this, well. We are here representing the values of our country, sports.”
“I have tried to get in touch with Lamar but I haven’t been able to do it. All I can say is that I wish that he is well. I wish that, if those rumors are true that he recovers because I have great love for Lamar.”
