The bid from Istanbul is the fourth time the Turkish city will attempt to host the Summer Olympics - the city having failed in its bids for 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Mehmet Ali Sahin, Turkey’s minister in charge of sports, confirmed that Istanbul 'will be a candidate for the 2012 Olympic Games' with the country’s Olympic committee scheduled to hand in its official bid to the International Olympic Committee on June 6.
Istanbul is joining a host of other cities bidding for the 2012 Games in what is fast becoming an overcrowded race.
Other cities that are bidding for the 2012 Games include New York, London, Paris, Madrid, Moscow, Leipzig, Havana and either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. The Canadian city of Toronto may also bid if Vancouver loses its 2010 bid for the Winter Olympic Games.
