Tokyo 2016 announced the result of an annual poll that, according to a media release, found people consider Japan to have “one of the most positive impacts on global society of any nation”.
The poll shows that international attitudes towards Japan place it behind only Germany, but with both nations tied in terms of their perceived positive influence, with 56 per cent of people considering both countries to be playing important roles on the world stage.
The BBC World Service commissioned survey, carried out by the international polling firm GlobeScan with the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, saw perceptions of Japan unchanged from the previous year’s poll.
Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO of Tokyo 2016 said, “Japan’s positive impact on the world provides inspiration to the Tokyo 2016 bid committee as we believe our pioneering Urban Games concept would have a similar beneficial impact on the Olympic Movement, building a lasting sporting, social, economic and environmental legacy for all”.
Meanwhile Dona 2016’s bid may get a boost with the announcement by the Heir Apparent H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s announcement that Doha will host 100,000 young people from all over the world to watch the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Sheikh Tamim, chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee, said, “this initiative is an integral part of our vision for the Doha 2016 bid to focus on our shared future – the world’s youth. This program will foster understanding and awareness of the Olympic ideals and will provide participants with the opportunity to experience the Olympic Games first hand and learn about the Olympic Movement and the sports that make up the Olympic Program. Moreover, this youth initiative will forge new friendships and understanding among the young delegates from all around the world”.
He said it was very important to exchange ideas and develop understanding between cultures. “The participants will have a change to exchange ideas and build understanding between cultures while also contributing to a very important dialogue on the role of sport and Olympism in the 21st century.
“Awarding Doha the 2016 Games would unleash the power of the Olympic Movement and peaceful sporting competition to create understanding, hope and change that could unite the entire region with the rest of the world”.
