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© 2013 AFPAbe says Olympics 'will repay debt we owe the world'
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© 2013 AFP
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David Wagner
Yeah, but what about the debt to all the holders of Japanese debt? I suspect that will come with a 60% haircut
George Smith
Congratulations. But the Fukushima Disaster continues with Toxic Particles and Radioactive matter seeping in to the Sea and Air. This is the greatest threat to mankind and must be contained.
nath
With all of the world's eyes on Tokyo, Japan must fix the mess in Fukushima ASAP and regain the trust and respect from the international world community!! Congratulations Tokyo and all of Japan!!
some14some
Now this Tokyo Olympics will take domestic debt to new highs perhaps Y2000 tri !
TravelingSales
If LA, Calgary, Salt Lake and Seoul can make aprofit from the Olympics, so can Tokyo.
drlucifer
Japanese worry so much about the image that foreigners have about Japan and will do everything so that foreign visitors to the olympics leave with a positive and pleasant memories that I am sure they will do. There is that saying that saying "Tsutta emono wa esa wo ataenai" and don't see my plight and that of other foreigners or japanese themselves improving in the long run from hosting the olympics.
scoobydoo
All countries cook the books to make it look profitable or not such a loss otherwise the people would revolt due to the amount they have to pay to have people run around the field or what ever they do.
TravelingSales
Montreal, Athens and Nagano reported a loss. London, Sydney and Vancouver were break-even.
globalwatcher
He should have said that Tokyo can repay the world the debt when Tokyo can clean up the mess of Fukushima. It is regrettable that his speech is just insulting and arrogant to the world. Japan, you are not doing at all for Fukushima!! Shame on you!!
smithinjapan
Once again, bilking the Tohoku disaster FOR PROFIT. A true Japanese politician, Abe -- saying 'Japan will repay' -- actually, not even saying Japan, just saying 'the Olympics will repay the debt' when all he seeks is credit and profit. The man is a true dbag.
Oh, and as I called it a few days ago, news is now being announced about how dangerous the situation in Fukushima is -- that if another earthquake/tsunami occurs, which there is a decent chance of, the death toll would be catastrophic. Guess they wanted to wait until after the bid was decided.
Cricky
Can see the train, can hear the train...can feel the train approaching, but I was told there is no train! Getting these games are going to focuss world attention on Japan. Do not think Japan is ready for the attention.
smithinjapan
The Olympics will help construction companies and the government, and the economy in the short run, but in the long run while the above may have profited, the people will suffer, and the people of Tohoku will see nothing -- same as most of them have until now since the disaster the government bilks occurred. The money that is now going to be funneled towards building stadiums and residences could have easily housed the people STILL in shelters, but those people still in shelters were the poster boy for the Tokyo bid. I wonder when we'll see that government 40 billion promised just before the decision actually go towards the Fukushima problem that 'dogged the Tokyo bid'.
billyshears
I think the saying is "tsutta sakana ni esa wa yaranu" 釣った魚に餌はやらぬ ...literally, a caught fish is never fed or "after the marriage, the presents stop". I don't believe any country which gains the right to stage the Olympics thinks it is going to improve all the "plights" it may have, but there are definitely a lot of benefits involved, so really there is nothing to moan about.
bimyou
Congratulation Tokyo!
Very good team work and definitely well played.
And yes please do fix Fukushima problems for real this time.
BernieK
There's an inside meaning for that from the J.gov. people. They know of the Economic Value Between Citizens & Tourists. Basically, when we lose one person in Japan, we need seven tourists. This is based on figures before the Senkaku Islands tussle when the Chinese tourists were spending lots of money each time for each visit.
It kind of makes you sick when a government worker says the truth to you in your face, but PM Abe is famous for staging "town meetings". It's all a facade.
cleo
The Olympics may give people hope and be lots 'o fun for all concerned, but there is no way a sports fest can repay all the warm concern and goodwill, not to mention concrete help, Japan received in its hour of need.
Kyle Alpert
Increasing tensions with neighbours, nationalism on the rise, a nation looking to forge its own path amongst a sea of uncertainty... Anyone else seeing seeing shades of 1936?
randomman
1936? You must be very old.
globalwatcher
Yep, we see a "50 shades of grey".
FightingViking
Translation please ?
Andreas Zachcial
In recent history all cities who hosted the Olympics regretted it afterwards. Much celebration today in the japanese construction company world. Japanese people as always are a bit naive, but the headaches will come later. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/07/the-curse-of-the-olympics.html
randomman
Yep, we see a "50 shades of grey".
It's be called colour blindness...
Elbuda Mexicano
No country is perfect, sorry not even Japan. Now Japan is is down, it has been down for a long time but no matter what all of the nay sayers here going about, JAPAN will over come, it HAS TO OVER COME all of the problems, like the mess up in Fukushima, the lack good roads, high ways in Tokyo and the lack of bullet trains, the lack of proper INTERNATIONAL airports, only 2?? One, Narita, out in the middle of no where Chiba prefecture, is miles and miles and super $$$ expensive to get to, the other Haneda is in Tokyo but still too expensive and not as helpful as say Hong Kong or Singapore. Tokyo needs at least one more INTERNATIONAL aiport, no brainner, make Yokota Air Force Base to make it both International, so those in western Tokyo do not have to travel to the complete other side of Tokyo to catch a flight. Ishihara had tried to make Yokota open to both international planes and to keep both the US and Japanese air force, if this is not the time, I do not know a better time to pressure the US military to open up Yokota base to CIVILIAN flights!!
Francis Urquhart
@scoobydoo
Agreed. Now add extra costs for an opening ceremony...total WOFTAM! The London OC was so surreal, many Brits didn't know what was going on, let alone the rest of the world!
'I hereby declare the games open' is all that is needed, if you think the games are needed at all...
Magnet
No Abe. It won't. Clean up TEPCO's mess, and we might find you closer to squared off. Using the Olympics as a dog n pony show to mask your government's major shortcomings on this front is outright shameful!
alfconde
The choice for 2020 Olympic Game in Tokyo was a unanimous decision by the IOC. For the sake of goodwill and sportsmanship, let it be. There is always tomorrow. I wish the Great City of Istanbul and Madrid can make it like Tokyo who loses the first time. Let the joy fills the air for the people who lose a lot …Congratulation.
kitzrow
Am I the only one thinking how hot it will be for any outdoor event? I assume the games will be held in August. Othere than that, CONGRATULATIONS!.
drlucifer
billyshearsSep. 08, 2013 - 03:28PM JST
There is that saying that saying "Tsutta emono wa esa wo ataenai" and don't see my plight and that of other foreigners or japanese themselves improving in the long run from hosting the olympics
Thanks for the japanese classes. According to you there is nothing to moan even if after the olympics we are left with white elephants and higher taxes. We were told the economic benefits far outweighed the cost when japan hosted the WC in 2002 and we know all too well it wasn't the case as Japan was still mired in recession after the world cup and were left with nice stadia all over the nation that are hardly used. The Olympic is a 2 week event, thereafter life continues, I was expecting you to state the benefits and how they outweigh the disadvantages so that people like me who are thinking long term and not just a 2 week span can be convinced not to moan.
Carol O'Donnel
Besides the economic incentive, Japan put on the table many proposals, from a new dopping test to the use of the web ESAGIL (http://esagil.org) to check the symptoms of athletes online. In fact, that website, produced by an international team of doctors based in New York, is actually directed by a Spanish doctor.
SunnyMorning
No country thinks of such as a debt... pay it forward, Abe, don't pay it back. Help other countries when they have disasters.
Or rather- wait until Fukushima is squared away and perfectly safe, and until dispaced people all have permanent homes and communities. THEN call the event over, and start thinking about other countries. And silliness like Olympics.
Mick_Hardwick
So are they now acknowledging that there was help from overseas?
overchan
What a beautiful speech. Abe talks like my father. Its an honor to have a minister like him. Its only sad that we have this disaster. But we can overcome it. Like we always do
hidingout
Good news for Tokyo and Japan.
Ricky Kaminski
Dunno about you guys , but i thought his presentation speech was pretty average. How do you say, lacked a certain finesse and was at times a bit creepy? Well done japan, but it wasnt because of Abe though. Bring on the games . The world is now watching with hopeful eyes.
Triumvere
Well that's a nice sentiment!
tobolski
Financially better than getting the World Cup. At least from an historical perspective of finances and lingering debt. However, as a tourist, I will avoid any area near Olympic sites until 2021.
OssanAmerica
If you are talking about China, absolutely!
isoducky
Let me get this out my system 'TETSUO!!!!'
ok, on to the seriousness. This is Abenomics; there is now a positive legitimate target (read reason) to raise taxes and flood the domestic market with money. All the while, people will be too entertained to know they are working more to make less. Well played Abe, well played. Now to tackle that population curve, you know this one http://populationpyramid.net/Japan/2020/
squeeks
Maybe winning the Olympics bid will get TEPCO off its hiney and start doing something productive too.
SpeaklikeGandhi
"Abe says Olympics 'will repay debt we owe the world' " I simply want to congraturate for Mr. Abe's securing the second Oympic Games in Japan. It is a great opportunity for Japan, again, to show their orderly good society and people to the world. The persons who constantly critisize what the Japanese government did, or do, should think what you, youself, did to help the others today. It is easy to critisize others.
Tolstoy
Yup, July/August. October (as in '64) or Sep/Oct (as in Seoul '88) might have been better?