News
2011-08-31

Olympics: JOC files application for Tokyo's 2020 Olympic bid

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese Olympic Committee said Tuesday it has notified the International Olympic Committee that Tokyo will bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The deadline for the submission of applications from national Olympic committees to the IOC is Sept. 1. Tokyo will bid for the second time in a row after losing out to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Games. According to the JOC, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, also plans to throw its hat into the race, while Rome, Madrid, Istanbul and Doha have already announced their intentions to bid. The cities must present their "bidding files" by Feb. 15 next year. "We want to use the experience and lessons from the past to win the bid. We hope to produce a plan that is even better than the last time," said JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda. The host city for 2020 will be decided in September 2013 following a preliminary elimination round in May of next year. Also, the JOC approved a proposal the same day to put forth men's hammer thrower Koji Murofushi as a candidate again for the IOC's Athletes' Commission election next year at the London Games. Murofushi, who won the gold medal at the ongoing world athletics championships in Daegu, South Korea and the title at the 2004 Athens Olympics, failed in his bid in the election at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Mainichi Japan) August 31, 2011