Yasuhiro Nakamori, Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) Olympic cooperation director, told Reuters Wednesday that Tokyo would make a formal announcement in July that the city would bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, despite the deadly earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, and the nuclear crisis north of the city.
Nakamori said, “the (March 11) disaster threw our preparations into a spin. We have to assess the situation with the nuclear issue, although the final decision will be made by the JOC and we will make an announcement in mid-July.
“A bid must also be approved by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, of course”.
Nakamori said, “we are trying to create a positive atmosphere to prepare Tokyo’s bid”, adding that the JOC had lent its support to Japanese sports plunged into chaos since the disaster.
He said, “the JOC helped the Japan Gymnastics Association keep the world championships”, referring to the competition which was in danger of being moved to Moscow.
Japanese officials plan to make an announcement July 15-16 at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the JOC, with International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge present, reports Reuters.
Nakamori added, “we must wait for things to settle down at the nuclear plant, but we are continuing with our preparations to deliver a bid to the IOC on September 1”.
2020 Summer Olympic Games candidate cities must submit their bids by September 1, and the host city will be elected in September 2013.
