Tokyo's 2020 Olympic bid is 'second to none'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors that Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 Olympics was "second to none".

Speaking on the first day of the IOC Evaluation Commission's visit to Tokyo, Prime Minister Abe insisted that winning the right to host the Games would allow the country to demonstrate its rate of recovery following the 2011 tsunami and earthquake, and would prove to be an "inspirational" choice.

He also offered the full support of the Japanese Government to host the Games, recalling the positive impact of the 1964 Olympics the last edition of the event to be staged in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Abe stated "the Olympic spirit was the same spirit with which Japan grew to its height.

"For the Japanese, the Olympic spirit became a mission that we must help the rest of Asia to grow."

Prime Minister Abe also pointed to the potential positive economic impact of the Games in Tokyo, with US$32 billion expected to be generated by the event and 150,000 jobs set to be created. The IOC Evaluation Commission, chaired by IOC Vice-President Sir Craig Reedie, is in Tokyo until Thursday before moving on to the other candidate cities of Madrid and Istanbul later this month.

The election of the host city will take place on 7th September during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

As part of Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, the Japan Sport Council recently selected Zaha Hadid Architects to redesign Tokyo's Kasumigaoka National Stadium.

The 80,000-seat stadium is also being redeveloped for the country's staging of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

24th November 2012 - ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS WIN COMPETITION TO REDESIGN JAPAN’S NATIONAL STADIUM

15th February 2012 - TOKYO NATIONAL STADIUM TO DOUBLE IN SIZE TO HOST THE 2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP

1st June 2011 - TOKYO SET FOR 2020 OLYMPIC BID

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