Rome ’20 Bid Chief Claims Japan have Withdrawn OG Interest

The vice-president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the leader of Rome’s proposed bid for the 2020 Games, Mario Pescante has claimed that Tokyo will not pursue its bid for the event following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Pescante said that he had been told by Japan’s Ambassador to Italy that they wanted to concentrate on rebuilding the shattered country following the devastation caused by the natural disasters earlier this month.

In an interview with an Italian radio station, Pescante stated: “Yesterday the Japanese Ambassador was with me at the start of the Rome Marathon and told me with great regret that his country could not continue with Tokyo’s bid.”

Pescante had picked out Tokyo last month as potentially being Rome’s closest challengers, adding: “If we had been beaten by Tokyo [following the earthquake] maybe we would have reasons to rejoice.

“But they have other things to think about.”

The World Bank has estimated that it could take Japan five years to rebuild following the damage from the earthquake and the tsunami at a cost of as much as US$235bn.

The cities bid would have been heavily influenced on whether Pyeongchang were awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics as it would have been unlikely that the IOC would have awarded consecutive Games to Asia.

In their absence, Pescante has picked out South Africa and Istanbul as Rome’s most dangerous rivals, continuing: “There is great determination in Africa to put together a strong campaign.

“Turkey as a country is very strong and Istanbul is a very big candidate,” said Pescante, who refused to accept that Rome were the early favourites.

“It is very early to pick favourites. The vote is still a long way off.”

Reports have indicated that since Pescante has made the claims, the Japanese Olympic Committee have refuted the suggestion that they have withdrawn their interest in hosting the Games in 2020.