IOC President Encourages Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid

June 27, 2011

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has encouraged Tokyo to proceed with its proposed bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, describing the city’s hosting potential as “very strong”.

Tokyo, which had unsuccessfully bid for the 2016 Games, awarded to Rio de Janeiro of Brazil, were asked to prepare an official bid last week by Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda.

Rogge said: “It did not win but the bid (for the 2016 Games) was very strong, so we considered that should there be (another Tokyo bid), we believed it was going to be a very strong bid.”

The decision of the 2020 Olympics host city is to be announced in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2013. Only Rome, Italy, has officially confirmed its intention to bid for the Game to date.

Tokyo’s bid will be aided by the news that Takeda is set to become a member of the IOC. Rogge said he would put Takeda forward as a candidate to replace two retiring Japanese members at the end of next year.

Rogge said: “My right is to make the proposal and I will make the proposal of Mr Takeda because I trust him, because I believe he is a very good man and he will be a great asset within the IOC.”

Takeda’s position is expected to be officially confirmed at the IOC Session in London next year.