olympics

Tokyo Olympic bid committee insists public is behind 2020

25 Comments
By Alastair Himmer

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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012.

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So we (the tax payers of Tokyo) are "selfish" for being less than pleased at yet another quixotic bid to boost an elderly nationalist's overly large ego?

What an idiot. At what point is it socially acceptable to have this man rendered incapable of speech? Lord knows he was rendered incapable of coherent thought years ago.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

“The people of Tokyo don’t have to come to the Olympics,” the outspoken 79-year-old told reporters. “The rest of Japan will come.”

what an insult to tokyoites, nation didn't elect him.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Wanting to host it Japan is one thing - why Tokyo? Don't we have enough going on here already? This is the New York, DC and LA of Japan. How about Fukuoka or Kansai, spreading the love (& infrastructure, etc)? Frankly, I'm rooting for Istanbul - that would great for Turkey and the surrounding countries.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japanese citizens are spoiled?

In Japan, spoiled politicians interpret democracy as the people serving the government, rather than the other way around.

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This sounds like a job (a documentry) for micheal moore.

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Interesting how those numbers jumped when Tokyo was the one looking at who supports.... Such a bag of poop.

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So the IOC survey shows 47% support and the Japanese poll shows 65% support. I know which one l believe and it aint the self promoting Japanese poll. As if they would ever admit to less than 60% support, it would instantly kill their bid.

Olympics in Japan, what an awful thought.....

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Ishihara is only looking to profit from this, no support from this Tokyo person.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hmm... I don't know. 2020 is pretty close so I don't know if it will be safe enough to have the Olympics in Japan. Problem with the nuclear plants, lack of electricity, expected earthquakes, etc. My personal pick will be Madrid. They need the boost in Economy and tourism is their thing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

gogogoMAY. 31, 2012 - 10:34AM JST Ishihara is only looking to profit from this, no support from this Tokyo person.

There is no profit in hosting the Olympics. Certainly Dentsu will profit from the bid, and numerous officials will be wined, dined and bribed at the tax payers' expense, but in the end the project will end up in the red for the nation. Japan has a huge debt and a lot of rebuilding to do following last year's earthquake, we do not have time for bread and circuses.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In other news the Tokyo Olympic bid commitee insists the nuclear meltdowns didn't happen, either.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tokyo Olymjpics 2020 has a high price tag. I wonder if people of Tokyo are willing to go for anoter tax hike for this.. Nothing is free, I am sure everyone has been aware of that. .

Tokyo Olympics 2020 is only for the riches who are flocking around Ishihara. Sounds like a priority is all mess up in Ishihara's head.. What about Tohoku victims, Fukushima Children, Fukushima nuke clean up, and food safety? These are the priority to me, not Olympics. . If Japan were smart, just doing these listed above will stimulate domestic economy to create jobs and it is good for all common people of Japan, not just for the riches.

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How about Fukuoka or Kansai, spreading the love (& infrastructure, etc)? Frankly, I'm rooting for Istanbul - that would great for Turkey and the surrounding countries.

My words exactly! Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, for Christ's sake Sendai!! Could all get the boost from this.

Madrid? Boring

Istanbul? Hell yeah! I'd go!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Sorry people but, I have another perspective on this subject matter.

YES TOKYO! 100000%! Personally, business wise and morale wise! It could not be LA, NYC or DC for many reasons but mostly because they don't have the Infrastructure for it. Also, they don't have the space to expand to reach the IOC requirements and LA as hosted 2 times in this century.

Sao Paulo got it next because they had all and there has not been an Olympics in S. A. Tokyo stepped back for that reason as well in the last selection process.

Osaka does not have the Infrastructure and will not be able to meet the IOC requirements. Same for Fukuoka. Also, neither of the cities have the "money" to take a run at a bid.

Being that Tokyo was in top 3 last selection time, they reapplied. The Infrastructure and the Venues are already in place because of the 1964 TOKYO Olympics and 2001 World Cup as well as having the needed space within METRO TOKYO to build the other needed Venues etc.

Hosting the Olympics in 2020 will be perfect for Japan as everyone is starting to awake from the "dead zone" we all felt after the Fukushima Earthquake(s). It will revitalize Tokyo & Japan as prepping for the task will create jobs etc.

Also, everyone one in Tokyo still makes use of the infrastructure put together for 1964. Many of the subway lines, The highway system in central Tokyo as well as many of the parks and publics places created for 1964.

Listen to ISHIHARA and then forget about 80% of what he said. I despise the man but many times he has made many good points in the center of his "B.S".

Just imagine how much more user friendly Tokyo will become for use by people from both domestic & international locations by having the Olympics here.

At this point if Tokyo can quickly resolve the "Power" problem we are a LOCK! It would be really exciting to live in a OLYMPIC HOST city!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Well, one can have a different perspective or opinion, and still be wrong. Facts are what are important and are not subject to feelings, perspectives, or opinions. Fact: The IOC, after conducting a poll finds that 47% of respondents support the second bid. As for Tokyo officials, 65%. Neither come close to the levels for the other candidate cities (both 78% and 73%) Fact: Whatever the outcome, the cities who bid for the Olympics lose the money they bid whether they win it or not. For Tokyo, if it loses, it will lose a large amount of money yet again. That money could have been used for other more important and pressing issues. Fact: Most host countries experience a negative impact on their economies after the games. Fact: Ishihara is an idiot.

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A survey conducted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) survey showed just 47% of Tokyo’s citizens support the city’s second successive bid for the Summer Games.

Results of a poll by Tokyo officials showed 65% in favor, prompting Gov Shintaro Ishihara to cajole the public to get behind the 2020 bid.

I know which survey I believe. And 65% is still too low. That's because nobody except アホじじ Ishihara wants it in Tokyo.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Osaka does not have the Infrastructure

How do they not when they have just as much as Tokyo? New stadiums for WC in the area, islands made just for sports... Osaka has plenty of room for it and the locals would probably be more than happy to have it there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like how the IOC survey and that conducted by -- ahem! non-biased, I'm sure -- Japanese officials who want to win the bid differed by almost 20% in terms of support!

As for Ishihara and Tokyoites, well, you got what you voted for (for those who can vote). Next time vote him out -- or better yet, march to City Hall and demand he resign.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder how many people were actually asked in the poll in the first place and what demographics came into play as well. I mean the "officials" could have asked 100 people and 65 answered in favor. I'll bet they failed to ask any of the people that possibly would be displaced or inconvenienced by the construction that would take place.

They should take a poll of the folks in Tohoku and Fukushima and see how they feel about their brethren down south wasting so much cash on what is probably going to be ANOTHER failed bid. I can not imagine the Olympic committee giving Tokyo the bid with the problems related to Fukushima and concerns (real not imagined) regarding the food supply too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ishihara called Tokyo’s citizen’s “spoiled” after learning of the IOC survey results

Wow. What a spiteful, peevish little man this is. "You don't agree with me? You are spoiled. I am right and you are wrong".

He really doesn't get it, does he? He works for us. We pay his wages. We're not his serfs, toiling on his feudal turf.

Please, people of Tokyo - put him in his place. He's embarrassing you on the world stage and insulting you in your own homes.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Sadly Ivan, the old folks keep voting for him and the young folks don't vote so... He can insult Tokyoites because... they are dumb enough to vote for him and allow him to state the crap he does. Honestly his insults are just shocking and yet, coming election time... He's laughing all the way to the bank. His failed bank. That wasted millions.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I dont think Tokyo has the infrastructure for it actually. Yes Tokyo has an incredible infrastructure, but that doesnt mean its ready for millions more people its already packed. I read a report that said many train lines of Tokyo are already operating at over 120% capacity, with parts of Hibiya at over 160% capacity.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ishihara needs to focus on other important issue; another possible earthquake that may (or may not) hit Tokyo. He needs to spend ALL his energy preparing for this to protect people in Tokyo, not Olympics. Is he a moron or what?.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Is he a moron or what?.

Is there really any other option to describe him? He should have been put out to pasture years ago, but because it seems that the people in Tokyo are apathetic in regards to their leadership he will probably be reelected until he dies.

He's is close to 80 years old already and I do believe that he needs to have a psychological evaluation to see if he is even fit to retain his position.

It's a shame to see that the "average" worker here in Japan is forced in most cases to retire at age 60 but politicians can go on forever.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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