Turkey protests 'will not affect Olympic Games bid'

The officials behind Turkey's campaign to host the 2020 Olympics have insisted that the recent violent protests in the country will not have an impact on the bid.

Riot police were deployed in capital city Istanbul following two weeks of heated demonstrations against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

However, bid officials are adamant that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already given positive feedback to Istanbul 2020 and will not be swayed by the recent trouble.

"This situation will have no bearing on our ability to deliver our Games concept, which was designed after consultation with environmental groups and NGOs (non-governmental organisations)," Istanbul 2020 said in a statement.

"This is a bid for the people of Turkey and we are united by our passion to bring the Games here for the first time. Istanbul 2020, and the 20-year dream of the Turkish people, will not be affected by these events."

Istanbul faces competition from Japan's Tokyo and Spain's Madrid to secure the event.