Interstad Consortium is low bidder, with about $84.6 million, for a contract to build an Olympic-class stadium in Istanbul. The client is the Olympic Games Preparation & Arrangement Committee (MEED 9:5:97; 24:1:97).

Eight bids were returned. They are:

Interstad Consortium: Ferrovial Internacional and Agroman Empesa Constructora, both of Spain, Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah Consultants, with the local Alsim Alarko - $84.6 million

Millennium Stadium Team Consortium: the US' Morse Diesel International and the UK's HOK International with the local Gulermak Agir Endustri - $87.9 million

France's Dumez GTM with the local Enka - $93.8 million

the US' Ellerbe Becket International with the local Tekser - $106.3 million

Campenon Bernard and SAE International, both of France, with the local Tekfen - $116.6 million

BBA Consortium: France's Bouygues with the local Baytur and ATA - $128 million

the UK's John Laing International with the local Gunal - $144.8 million

United Olympist Construction Consortium: ICF Kaiser, Clark Construction International, Parsons Brinkerhoff International and NBBJ Sports & Entertainment Partnership, all of the US, and Germany's Wayss & Freytag, with the local Kiska and Yapi Merkezi - $169.8 million

With seating for about 80,000 people, the stadium is planned for athletics, football and other field sports, and will comply with Olympic and other international standards. It will be the centrepiece of 14 separate sporting facilities at an Olympic Park planned at Ikitelli, near Ataturk International Airport.

The government has decided the stadium will go ahead even though Istanbul has been unsuccessful in bidding to become the host of the Olympic Games in 2004. The government is required to provide 80 per cent of the financing for works at the park according to the Turkish Olympic Act, but financing offers from bidders for the stadium will be taken into consideration.