Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the 2008 Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Beijing to show his support for Tokyo’s 2016 bid. He was joined by Governor of Tokyo and President of Tokyo 2016, Shintaro Ishihara, and the Chairman and the CEO of Tokyo 2016, Dr. Ichiro Kono.
Dr. Kono said, “the Summer Games of 2008 have only just started but it is already clear that Beijing’s efforts to organize a spectacular Games are being successful. Seeing tonight’s celebration first hand and experiencing the power of the Olympic Movement once again have only deepened my desire and motivation to welcome the world to Tokyo for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.
“The Games in the heart of Tokyo would harness our Olympic passion and use it as a tremendous catalyst for sporting, social, economic and environmental development”.
Meanwhile Tokyo 2016 President Shintaro Ishihara in Beijing Saturday visited the cultural showcase of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Japan House, which features an area dedicated to Tokyo 2016, to promote it new “Uniting Our Worlds’ Theme”.
