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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Sapporo rejects referendum over bidding for 2030 Winter Olympics
By YURI KAGEYAMA and STEPHEN WADE TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
22 Comments
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Sven Asai
That’s a great piece of ‘argumentation’ especially under but not limited to statistical considerations. lol
Franz Pichler
Let them have their Winter Olympics, and a summer one in top! And give everyone 100,000¥, and on and on, man politicians here seem really to go bonkers
Mr Kipling
There is one good reason not to have a vote..... they won't like the result.
Please stop wasting our tax money on money pit events like the Olympics.
dagon
The city's assembly, controlled by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party — which is also in charge of the national government — turned down having a public vote. Its meeting was streamed online.
The LDP Olympic Nazis to the Japanese public:
No choice for you!
Seigi
The people will be against it, and they want to avoid humiliation when the truth comes out (that people don't want this waste of taxpayers' money!)
Jadyn Campbell
Depending on how many people are truly against it, they could organize a boycott of paying their income taxes as an "up yours" to the government.
Dango bong
"52% of the people want it so why vote?"
That's the logic? LOLLLLLLLLL
garypen
Not the real reason.
The real reason.
Mr Kipling
If its only the people of Sapporo or Hokkaido paying I don't care.... Waste your own money.
factchecker
So do as you are told Sapporo citizens and enjoy drowning in debt. Have fun, or else.
Mark
""Sapporo officials have said there is no need for a referendum since its polling shows 52% to be in favor of an Olympic bid.""
The key word here is "" its polling"" and we all know what this means.
I believe it should be up to the citizens of any city to decide on hosting any Olympics, after all it's their city and they own it, NOT the city assembly.
Laguna
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City made a $56-million profit. (The LA Olympics did, too, but that was summer.) I'd go with Salt Lake and LA for all Olympics from now on.
Blacklabel
So that same Bach guy gonna be back here to pick up envelopes of money again?
Antiquesaving
Yes and I will bet trying to get that 52% polling was very difficult as they selected the best places and people to ask and even then at best they got 52%.
The authorities know the result of a referendum will be NO so no way they are going to chance it.
rainyday
At least this way the people will know exactly who to blame for this disaster in the making, should Sapporo get these awful games.
Pukey2
LDP: We are going to bankrupt your city and you have no say.
badman
They could have an Olympic charter than limits public financial exposure and requires a public/private partnership to finance the games.
Peter Neil
Japan is still a representative democracy.
Vote them out.
Alan Bogglesworth
Liberal Democratic Party…ok?
Vote them out.