The Government of Japan unveiled the Basic Sports Law earlier this year, and in line with the policies set out in the legislation, the Cabinet has now granted its approval of the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a means of promoting the development of sport for citizens across the country. The statement of approval also cites the staging of the Games as a symbol of Japan’s recovery following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the north eastern part of the country in March.

Tokyo 2020 and Japanese Olympic Committee president, Tsunekazu Takeda, said: “Today’s declaration of support from the Cabinet constitutes another major piece in the jigsaw and ensures that we will receive widespread support from both the public and private sectors as we strive to bring the Games to Tokyo in 2020.”

Last week, both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors passed resolutions to provide their full co-operation and support to Tokyo’s campaign. Last month, the bid committee also launched the Tokyo 2020 Council, a premium advisory board consisting of 64 members from the government. The Council includes Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda who serves as Supreme Advisor, and leading figures from Japan’s business and sporting communities.

Tokyo this month followed the example of fellow 2020 Olympics applicant city Madrid in announcing its bid for the Games will cost significantly less than its failed attempt to secure the hosting rights for the 2016 Olympics. Tokyo, which finished third behind Madrid and eventual winner Rio de Janeiro in the 2016 Games tender, has now indicated that the cost of its bid for the 2020 Olympics will be around the US$75 million mark, compared to 2016’s figure of $150 million.

Tokyo and Madrid, along with four other candidate cities, are due to submit their 2020 Games plans to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by February 25. The other cities in the running are Baku, Doha, Istanbul and Rome. The IOC will vote on the host city in September 2013.