Dr. Kono and his colleagues participated in the IOC’s 2016 Applicant Cities Seminar in Lausanne while a delegation also attended SportelMonaco. Before leaving for Lausanne and Monaco, the Tokyo 2016 bid team also had meetings with representatives from London 2012.
Dr. Kono said the workshops run by the IOC had clarified many aspects of the 2016 candidature procedure and that the committee had gained valuable information that it will put to use in responding to the IOC Questionnaire for 2016 Applicant Cities to be submitted in January 2008.
“These meetings in Europe are an essential part of our listening and learning process. The IOC has a huge body of knowledge and know-how and we have taken on board a huge amount in practical terms on how to put together application files. We can now focus on putting together the answers to the Questionnaire.”
“We are confident that we can provide a strong response to the questionnaire and that we can offer a compelling bid from Tokyo.”
Dr. Kono said that the primary focus of Tokyo’s bid would be the athletes and that a Tokyo Games would also shine a spotlight on the environment and environmental legacies for the city.
He said that the principal legacies for Tokyo 2016, in hosting the city’s second Olympic Games, would replicate those of the first Games in 1964, giving the city renewed confidence and spirit and providing a strong and lasting sporting infrastructure.
