Less than six months-time from the inspirational celebration in London, Tokyo 2020 declared their Games, hosted in one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities on the planet, will energise the world as never before. Focusing on its “Discover Tomorrow” campaign theme, the most decorated Tokyo 2020 Bid delegation to date, spearheaded by Tokyo 2020 President Tsunekazu Takeda, Governor of Tokyo Naoki Inose, and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2011 Homare Sawa, travelled to London to mark the start of the international campaign launch.
The event in London was Tokyo 2020’s first major effort to communicate with international audiences about the strengths of its Bid, highlighting its ability to deliver Games in the heart of the city with guaranteed quality and maximum benefits, in a celebratory atmosphere, using its world-renowned innovation and creativity to benefit sport and the overall Olympic Movement.
The high-profile delegation in London included Tsunekazu Takeda, IOC Member and President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020; Naoki Inose, Tokyo’s recently-elected Governor and Tokyo 2020 Chairman; Teru Fukui, Japan’s Minister in Charge of Sports and WADA Executive Committee member; Masato Mizuno, CEO of Tokyo 2020; Homare Sawa, FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2011, important contributor to the Japanese silver medal-winning football team at the London 2012 Games, and Tokyo 2020 Bid Ambassador; and Takayuki Suzuki, London 2012 Paralympic Games’ bronze medallist in two swimming disciplines and Tokyo 2020 Bid Ambassador.
Focusing on celebration, Takeda highlighted the similarities between London and Tokyo:
“London 2012 gave us an additional lesson in how to host. Seb Coe and his team demonstrated the importance of preparation and attention to detail. They showed how early, efficient delivery meant that they had time to focus on the vital ‘extra’ elements that take any Games from good to great. I’m talking about things like city dressing, cultural events and, of course, the wonderful Games Makers. Now, we believe we have plans that will see Tokyo stage Games that will also inspire a generation. We will host a dynamic celebration, fuelled by the amazing passion of Japanese sports fans and that will ignite the imagination of the entire world.”
Inose declared that the bid will deliver everything necessary to ensure a smooth and well organised Games: “Tokyo 2020 is ready, willing and able to make our vision of hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games a reality.” Tokyo already has everything required to welcome a mega-event: 160,000 restaurants, 140,000 hotels rooms, an unparalleled infrastructure including the Tokyo Sky Tree (the world’s highest tower at 634 metres), an extensive railway network comprising 760 stations, two international airports (Narita and Haneda), a road network with the major urban routes and motorways totalling 1,575 kilometres, and a fleet of more than 50,000 taxis.
Fukui emphasised the city’s unmatched innovation by using its national stadium as an example: “An international design contest was held recently, where UK based Zaha Hadid became the winner.
This stadium will be a vivid demonstration of Japan’s cutting-edge technology at the 2020 Games, with an over 80,000 capacity developed into a breathtaking atmosphere and unique Japanese hospitality.”
During the press conference the Bid unveiled a two minute film entitled “Tomorrow Begins,” which underscored the city’s passion for sport. Images focused on Japanese and international athletes, spectators, and how Tokyo’s people, customs and cultures – as well as the city’s unique characteristics – will enhance and enrich the Games experience.
And in a video appearance from Tokyo, 17 year old Lynne Hutchison, who was born in Tokyo and was a member of Team GB’s rhythmic gymnastics team in 2012, discussed how Tokyo “is a great city for young people.” She said, “Tokyo 2020 is ready to inspire a generation like London did. Games in Tokyo will be a party!”
Stressing the city’s “guarantee” to deliver, early and effectively, Takeda added: “In 2012 alone, Tokyo hosted more than 40 international cultural, sporting, and tourism events.
Few cities on the planet can come close to our organisational know-how. Since so many of the basics are already in place in Tokyo, we will be able to focus on delivering unexpected ‘extras’ to make the Olympic Games experience unforgettable.”
The delegation unveiled numerous powerful details of the Bid that were presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the Candidature File. These included:
Eighty-five per cent of the Tokyo venues and all Olympic and Paralympic Family accommodation will be within eight kilometres of the Olympic and Paralympic Village. All of the IOC members’ hotels will be less than 30 minutes from 94 per cent of venues.
All spectator and workforce travel will be free by public transport. Integrated circuit cards serving both as a ticket to Games competition and as free access to public transport in Tokyo.
System of last-minute ticket sales where everyone can purchase tickets through the network of convenience stores and real-time information on seat availability via Internet and mobile phones.
Three days ago, on 7 January, Masato Mizuno, accompanied by Homare Sawa and Takayuki Suzuki, submitted the Tokyo 2020 Candidature File to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne. This was an important step in the run-up to the final vote in Buenos Aires, on 7 September 2013 that will decide the host city of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and the XVI Paralympic Games in 2020.
The IOC’s Evaluation Commission will visit Tokyo in March to have a first-hand look at the city’s proposed plans for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This article was originally posted on the Tokyo 2020 bid site
