Dr. Ichiro Kono, Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016, told a press conference in Copenhagen, “first, we have the most compact and convenient Games concept for athletes and sports fans, right in the heart of our city. Helping athletes reach their peak watched by four billion people on prime time television, we can inspire the youth of the world.
“Second, we offer total financial security in these difficult economic times, with four billion dollars already in the bank. And finally, we guarantee the greatest ever Olympic legacy for humankind”.
Kono said more than 100 million Japanese now support Tokyo 2016 and tens of thousands of Japanese have worked for more than four years on its offer for the IOC.
Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) President and Vice President of Tokyo 2016, Tsunekazu Takeda said, “tomorrow (presenting to the IOC) we will touch on many points but we will particularly stress the reliability and experience that the International Federations and National Olympic Committees can depend on in Japan. This is a team committed to putting on an incredible celebration of sport in 2016. We also recognize that such a celebration must contribute to furthering the movement and its long-term goals. So we are delighted to work with a bid team that really wants to strengthen sport in Japan and to contribute to the Olympic Movement worldwide”.
Meanwhile Kono said he was unsure if Yukio Hatoyama, Japan’s new prime minister, will have time to meet IOC members before Friday’s votes.
Kono told the Associated Press, “I do hope so, but I am not sure”.
