JAPAN: OLYMPICS: Tens of thousands celebrate the first ever parade of Japanese Olympic medalists in the streets as Tokyo eyes 2020

Record ID: 331117

  • Title: JAPAN: OLYMPICS: Tens of thousands celebrate the first ever parade of Japanese Olympic medalists in the streets as Tokyo eyes 2020
  • Date: 20th August 2012
  • Summary: PEOPLE WATCHING THE PARADE FROM SECOND FLOOR OF OFFICE BUILDING DENTISTS AND STAFF WATCHING THE PARADE FROM WINDOW OF DENTAL CLINIC (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) ACTING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR TOKYO2020 MASA TAKAYA SAYING: "Today even one week after the Olympics this many people have gathered to see the Olympic medalists, that this many people and resources have showed their support, I believe that Tokyo will be successful in its Olympic bid." MORE OF OLYMPIANS IN OPEN AIR BUS
  • Embargoed: 4th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: People,Lifestyle,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA55QMM4FZ1U9DV02DXJPHBHOPM
  • Story Text: Half a million people packed the streets of Tokyo for the first ever parade celebrating Japanese Olympic medalists on Monday (August 16) as the city eyes 2020 as a host to the summer Games.
    According to the Japan Olympic Committee which organised the event, approximately 500,000 people filled the streets for a glance of the national heroes' smiles, waves and muscles as they rode through the upscale shopping district of Ginza in 2 open cars and 5 open air buses.
    Japan had its highest overall medal count to date with 38 top three placings including 17 bronze, 14 silver and 7 gold.
    The previous record for Japan's Olympic medal count was 37 top three slots in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
    The 76 Olympic athletes who won medals in sports including women's soccer, judo, men's gymnastics, and fencing waved and shouted from their perch on a straight one kilometre long route for 20 minutes as fans and admirers waved Japanese flags and home-made signs in support of the athletes.
    From the fencing, badminton and volleyball bus the athletes waved and cheered to their supporters.
    Yuki Ota, member of the silver medalist fencing team enthusiastically shouted "Thank You!" as he showed off his medal to the hundreds of thousands who came out for the event.
    Though lacking in gold and heavy in bronze wins, the Japanese people were not in the least disappointed with their athletes.
    "It delighted me how they have lifted the spirits of the Japanese people. It was truly wonderful," local house wife Rumiko Yodono said.
    For others a little pleasant news can go a long way for a nation that has experienced so much hardship since the last Olympic games.
    "There is not so much pleasant news these days, but they have really encouraged us to strive and move forward," 61-year-old retiree Yasuhisa Nakano told Reuters.
    Japan is one of three candidates to host the summer Olympics in 2020, it must beat out Madrid, Spain and Istanbul, Turkey to bring the international athletic competition to Tokyo.
    "I definitely want the Olympics to come to Tokyo. I want to witness their success in Tokyo," 44-year-old nurse Kazuko Amano said.
    While it is believed there was a lack of enthusiasm from the Japanese people in the bid for 2016, organizers for Tokyo 2020 believe that the build-up they've seen this year including strong government support and positive public backing confirm that Japan is ready to bring the Olympics back to Japan.
    "Today even one week after the Olympics this many people have gathered to see the Olympic medalists, that this many people and resources have showed their support, I believe that Tokyo will be successful in its Olympic bid," Acting Communications Director for Tokyo 2020 Takaya Masa told Reuters.
    Tokyo last hosted the Olympics in 1964, at that time the event was the first chance for Japan to showcase to the world its recovery post World War 2.
    Many supporters of Tokyo 2020 believe the Olympics could be an opportunity to once again prove that Japan has risen above and despite tragedy.
    The International Olympic Committee is set to reveal their decision for the venue of the Summer 2020 Olympics in September 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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