Tokyo missed out on hosting the 2016 Olympics after being edged into third place behind Madrid and the eventual winner, Rio de Janeiro. However, Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) president Tsunekazu Takeda (pictured) believes the bid can be used as a vehicle for positive change following the natural disaster on the north-eastern coast of Japan on March 11.
“The last time we hosted the Olympics, we were able to show the world how much we had recovered from disaster,” Takeda said, referring to the 1964 Games in Tokyo, which took place 19 years after the end of the Second World War. “We want to make this event a similar symbol of recovery from the major disasters we have suffered. We will devote ourselves to the cause of bringing the Olympics back to Tokyo.”
Takeda, speaking during a symposium to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the JOC, said that the national body had received a formal letter of intent from Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara on Friday. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge responded by describing the announcement of Tokyo’s bid as “excellent news”.
According to Reuters, Rogge also said: “The IOC is extremely happy to receive this candidature and wishes Tokyo good luck. The JOC, the IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia have joined forces to bring the healing power of sport to those who are reconstructing their lives.”
The IOC has already received an official bid from the Italian capital of Rome while Madrid announced last week that the Spanish city would enter the running after coming desperately close in the tenders for the 2012 and 2016 Games. Istanbul and Doha are also thought to be preparing bids, with the IOC set to vote on the host city in Buenos Aires in September 2013.