Tokyo looking to host 2020 Summer Olympics

[News_Editor]

Tokyo looking to host 2020 Summer Olympics

2011-06-17 23:59:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- Despite Japan's ongoing nuclear crisis, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara on Friday voiced his interest for the city to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.

After losing their 2016 bid, Ishihara said that Tokyo's bid for 2020 would demonstrate Japan's recovery after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country over three months ago, the Japan Times reported.

"If we can show that Japan has recovered, and we will, nine years later, it will be the best appreciation for the friendship and encouragement that were given to us from all over the world," Ishihara said.

"I would definitely like every Tokyo resident and Japanese to join their hands together with the disaster-hit areas and the whole of Japan," Ishihara added. "I am strongly expecting Japan to become the one behind hosting the games."

Tokyo has until September 1st to apply to the International Olympic Committee and Ishihara is expected to make the announcement official later in July. The winner will later be decided during the committee's general assembly, which is scheduled to beheld in 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In 2009, Tokyo lost its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics as the International Olympic Committee chose Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, which also topped Chicago, Illinois and Madrid, Spain.

At least 15,421 people were killed and 7,937 others remain after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country on March 11. Tens of thousands of people still remain in shelters in 21 prefectures around Japan.

The disaster also severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, disabling its cooling systems. Radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-17

[geriatrickid]

People will be too terrified of the radiation issues to even consider the Tokyo bid.