Special Report: How the 2020 Olympic Games Host City Election Unfolded
September 7, 2013
Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games after being elected at the 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session.
The result came as no big surprise, with Tokyo long-considered the front-runner in the race against Istanbul and Madrid.
Tokyo played on the “safe pair of hands” narrative throughout the bidding process and in the end, the IOC were convinced.
The host city election on 7 September in Buenos Aires had its fair share of ups and downs, drama and suspense. There were power cuts, tiebreakers and more promotional videos than would ever be considered necessary.
Doping dents Istanbul
Istanbul 2020’s delegation began the presentations, which were all followed by a question and answer session. “This is a new bid, for a new Turkey,” said bid Chairman Hasan Arat. Istanbul’s presentation was strong, but questions over doping proved to be their downfall.
Thirty-one athletes were suspended for doping offences only one month ago and whilst Turkey’s Sport Minister Suat Kilic said the country had a “zero tolerance” to doping, the presentation was overshadowed by the issue.
Tokyo boast strong presentation
Eventual winners Tokyo were on next, with Princess Takamado in charge of the opening speech. The Tokyo 2020 presentation was described as “clear, crisp and balanced” by pundit Keir Radnedge and few disagreed.
Doping was never going to be a hurdle for Tokyo. As bid President Tsunekazu Takeda put it: “Not a single Japanese athlete has failed a doping test in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The problem for Tokyo was the Fukushima radioactive water spill. This was their hurdle which they had to jump. During the Q&A, the Fukushima meltdown was left to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured below), who handled it confidently.
“Let me assure you the situation is under control. It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo,” Abe said. “There are no health related problems until now, nor will there be in the future. I make the statement to you in the most emphatic and unequivocal way.”
Blackout dampens Madrid bid
Madrid had been considered the underdog in the race for some time due to economic difficulties. However, coming in to the weekend, Madrid had suddenly become close favourite alongside Tokyo.
Sadly, grey skies, quite literally formed over head during their presentation. A tropical storm caused a media blackout and it is almost impossible to analyse their performance.
The cameras returned in time for the Q&A and much like Istanbul, questions of doping haunted Madrid. Their delegation did not do enough to answer the tough questions regarding recent scandals. Madrid 2020 President said: “We have sharpened the law and prosecuted the athletes and those who harm the health of the athletes,” but it was not a persuading performance.
After a speech from Sir Craig Reedie, who headed the IOC’s Evaluation Commission, it was finally time for the votes. All three cities said they were confident and happy with their performances, but there would have been some nervous faces at this point of the Session.
Tiebreak heartbreak for Madrid
And those representing Madrid or Istanbul who were nervous before, were about to get even more so. A tiebreaker was announced between the two for second place, with Tokyo storming into round two in first. Michael Payne, the former marketing chief for the IOC and a senior strategic advisor to Istanbul 2020 tweeted: “Did I or did I not talk of a tie in first round. Not healthy for the tension.”
In the end, he needn’t had worried, as Istanbul brushed aside Madrid 2020, despite their new-found “favourite” status.
Tokyo 2020 take the spoils
Istanbul 2020 had provided an intriguing prospect for the Olympic movement; An Olympic Games based on two continents (Asia and Europe) and one that would be in a Muslim nation for the first time.
Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect, Payne asked if the IOC would be “embracing a new territory and culture or whether they are going backwards and into their comfort plans.”
The IOC went down the safe route. Embracing a new territory and culture was not on the agenda as Tokyo, who hosted the Games in 1964 was elected as the 2020 host city.
Istanbul will feel hard done by, but should take pride in their strongest bid to date, having failed for 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 in the past.
On their election, which they won by 60 votes to 38, Takeda said: “Tokyo is honoured and humbled by the International Olympic Committee’s decision to award us the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“With no doubt, this will be a memorable event for the every member of the Olympic Family, every athlete and every spectator.”
{jcomments on}