Ichiro Kono, CEO of Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, told Reuters, “Tokyo’s plan will have a worldwide impact”.
The interview was conducted almost 10 years to the day since Japan hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games and more than 40 years after the 1964 Olympics.
Kono said, “Japan is taking the lead on a wide range of global issues and having the Olympics here will be an important step to help us do even more. Tokyo can become a role model for other cities”.
This time Tokyo plans more massive investment to bring the Olympics back to Japan, reports Reuters.
“The bid alone will cost about $50 million. There will be operational costs of another $2.8 billion but the city’s economy is in very good health. The bid is also strongly supported by the Fukuda government”, said Kono.
According to Reuters, Kono rejected fears that Tokyo’s candidacy could flounder because of its proximity to the Beijing 2008 Games being held in August. He said, “we’re not worried about that at all. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has no rotation policy. There won’t be any negative impact from the timing of Beijing.
“After 2008 it will be 2010 in Vancouver, then London in 2012 and then 2014 Sochi, so its hardly as though it’s coming straight back to Asia”.
He said he wasn’t concerned that Tokyo could have a similar shortfall of ticket sales as the world athletics championships last year in Osaka, saying “Osaka and Tokyo are different. Tokyo is the capital. At the 1991 world championships the stadiums were packed. We’re not worried about empty seats”.
Kono added, “we want to learn from Beijing and other big events. A successful Beijing Olympics will help Tokyo’s bid. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Tokyo and Japan – and Asia too”.
