Tokyo set for 2020 Olympic bid

The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) has stated that Tokyo remains focused on a bid for the 2020 Olympic Games following Hiroshima's decision to scrap its candidacy last week.

JOC Olympic Cooperation Director Yasuhiro Nakamori has revealed Tokyo will make a formal announcement in July, admitting plans had been affected by March's earthquake and tsunami and the resulting nuclear crisis to the north of Japan's capital city.

Nakamori told Reuters "the disaster threw our preparations into a spin (and) we have to assess the situation with the nuclear issue."

Nakamori added that "the final decision will be made by the JOC and we will make an announcement in mid-July."

Tokyo was unsuccessful in a bid to host the 2016 Games (it lost to to Rio de Janeiro in the final round of voting) and its final decision to bid for the 2020 Games hinges on whether Korea's Pyeongchang succeeds in its efforts to secure the 2018 Winter Olympics. The JOC feel that a victory for the South Korean city would rule out another Asian country winning 2020.

Hiroshima cancelled its plans to bid for the 2020 Games due to a lack of funding and public support. The decision leaves the way clear for Tokyo, with City Governor Shintaro Ishihara keen on a new bid after recently securing a fourth term in office.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) votes on the 2018 Winter Games host city in South Africa on 6th July while the deadline for National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to submit an applicant city for the 2020 Games to the IOC is 1st September.

The JOC's official announcement is expected to arrive during its centenary celebrations on 15th and 16th July when IOC President Jacques Rogge will be in attendance.

Meanwhile Japanese Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Vice Minister Kan Suzuki has expressed interest in bidding the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to north eastern Japan as a part of the earthquake relief.

30th May 2011 - JAPAN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP BUDGET APPROVED

22nd February 2011 - PYEONGCHANG WINTER GAMES BID PRAISED BY IOC