- Title: JAPAN: OLYMPICS: Tokyo loses its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Date: 3rd October 2009
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KAZUHIKO YAMAUCHI, 44 YEAR OLD FORMER POLITICIAN SAYING: "I think its about the balance between the regions. In Asia we just had the Beijing Olympics and I think that played a big part. Content-wise Tokyo had a strong case, though" DISAPPOINTED LOOKING CHILD
- Embargoed: 18th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAC1UY5Y0VCXTTU02RIWGRR2JHM
- Story Text: Tokyo residents disappointed after losing 2016 Olympic bid.
Three hundred people stayed up past midnight Friday (October 2) to root for Tokyo's 2016 Summer Olympic bid at Tokyo Tower, the Japanese capital's iconic landmark.
The city was looking to drum up support for what was considered the underdog of the four finalist bid cities including Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Chicago.
But all the cheerleaders and pep rallies did not help in the end.
Within ten minutes of the vote closing around 1520 GMT, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sensationally rebuffed U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday, eliminating Chicago and then minutes later Tokyo. Just over an hour later, Rio was announced as the host for 2016, making them the first South American city to host the Games.
While the Tokyo bid supporters vowed to try again in 2020, most Tokyo residents at the event were clearly disappointed.
"We have another chance four year from now in 2020. This has kicked off our engine. Let's go for it," said Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, who was also the main organiser for the Tokyo 2016 bid supporters club.
"We lost in the second round so quickly after the first, it's disappointing," added Aya Yamamoto, a 23-year-old university student.
"They say the Japanese people did not expect too much from this Olympic bid, I think that's why we lost," Sho Nakamoto, 27-year old, a director of music videos.
"I think its about the balance between the regions. In Asia we just had the Beijing Olympics and I think that played a big part. Content-wise Tokyo had a strong case, though," added Kazuhiko Yamauchi, a 44-year-old former politician. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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