Ichiro Kono, CEO of Tokyo 2016, said if Tokyo hosts the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the Games will be a blend of the city’s modern metropolitan character and its Olympic legacy of more than 40 years.
Kono told Reuters at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Guatemala, “it is a blend of heritage and Olympic experience and the new area development”.
He said Tokyo’s bid would focus on the rejuvenation of the Harumi waterfront but didn’t provide any more details. Kono said, “it is no secret that we will plan venues around the waterfront to offer a sustainable plan to regenerate that area ….for a new generation. The Olympic facilities are in everyday use for almost 50 years. Tokyo will show it has a sustainable plan”.
Kono said the fact that Beijing was hosting the Games next year would not hinder the chances of the event returning to Asia eight years later. He said, “Asia is a very large continent. I take the Beijing Games in a very positive way”.
Kono told AFP Friday that for Tokyo to win the right to host the 2016 Summer Games it will be crucial to establish warm relations with all the interested parties. He said one thing he had learned from Sochi’s victory Wednesday was that the bid had to be professional. “Personally for me one of the key factors is communication.
“We have to establish good communications with not only the IOC members but also the local community, the press and supporters. What we have learned from the 2014 Winter Olympics bid is to watch and listen from the IOC members.
“The bidding process is highly professional and you have to be well prepared which all three cities were. We have to focus on our application.
“We have to pinpoint the IOC members because while many of them know Japan we still need to educate some of them about its culture and history and sporting prowess”.
He said it would not have made a difference for Tokyo’s bid had PyeongChang won the 2014 bid. “We had decided to run anyway. This is very early days and we have two years to go till the decision (in Copenhagen)”.
Kono told AFP that government support will be required both on a promotional and financial level – just as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government had done for Sochi – but added he would prefer other factors to boost their bid. While acknowledging government support is needed, he said, “in my view I would like us to focus on our own strengths and leave the rest to them. Because we have strong points and I am very excited”.
Kono said he had no doubts about the Japanese people supporting Tokyo’s bid. “The Japanese people are Olympic lovers”.
Tokyo’s bid logo will be unveiled on July 10.
