The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) evaluation commission arrived in Osaka Sunday evening and was greeted by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and then taken to a hotel in central Osaka for a welcoming receiption.
According to the Japan Times, the mood among Osaka officials was “anxious” following reports that the 17-member committee had given high marks to Beijing’s preparations. The officials were also disappointed that Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori won’t be meeting with the IOC members during their stay in Japan.
In fact, one Osaka Olympic official said, “Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin attended Beijing’s presentation, and emphasized that China, not just Beijing really wants the 2008 Games. How does it look if the Prime Minister of Japan fails to show up and support our bid?”
While Beijing claims that more than 95 per cent of its population supports the bid, Osaka says that only 76 per cent are in favour of hosting the 2008 Games, but only on the condition that there will be no new taxes.
During the group’s four day visit to Osaka, the committee will tour facilities in and around the city, including the islands of Maishima and Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, where the construction of an 80,000 seat stadium is planned for the opening and closing ceremonies.
