think_too_mut Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 From Japantoday (AFP news): This pic is my choice: Abe says Olympics 'will repay debt we owe the world' Sep. 08, 2013 - 03:30PM JST Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during the 125th Session of the IOC in Buenos Aires, on Saturday.AFP BUENOS AIRES — Tokyo will repay the world the debt they owe them for their help after the devastating tsunami in 2011 when the city hosts the 2020 Olympic Games Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday. Abe was speaking after the Japanese capital secured their second Olympic Games—having previously had them in 1964—by beating Istanbul by 60 votes to 36 at a meeting of International Olympic Committee (IOC) members in Buenos Aires. Abe, whose final presentation allayed members’ fears over contaminated water leaking from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, said Japan would repay its debt to the world in full. He added that he had seen how sport could change lives in the immediate aftermath of the quake and giant waves that struck northeast Japan in March 2011, leaving over 18,000 people dead and badly damaging the nuclear plant. “Sport can mobilize people. That is the power shown exactly after the tsunami,†he said. “The situation was very tough but lots of athletes (including U.S. sprint legend Carl Lewis) came to Japan and played with the kids and everybody had hope and courage. “During the presentation I said about the boy I saw with a football given to him by one of these athletes. That football is not a gift. It is for the future. That is the power of sports. “Japan needs hope and dreams and we are now looking forward to dreams and hopes. We will pay the debt of support we owe the world from the time of the tsunami.†Abe, who flew to South America from the G20 summit in St Petersburg, Russia, said the Olympics had given him such dreams when he was a boy in 1964 and was overwhelmed when he heard Tokyo announced as winners. “I talked about the Olympic Games in 1964. Then I was only 10 years old but a lot of kids were inspired like me by them and had dreams and hopes,†he added. “We wanted to have aspirations of winning a medal but for many it was not possible. When I heard Tokyo announced I was overwhelmed because I was the person that had got this medal and the joy was more than when I was first elected prime minister, the joy was greater.†Japan’s IOC member and Tokyo bid president Tsunekazu Takeda said the result was an enormous achievement after the city’s failed effort to secure the 2016 Games, where they finished third. The two-time showjumping Olympian said the trust placed in them would not be misplaced. “The Olympic Family has put its faith in our great city to deliver the memorable Games we have promised and we will not let them down,†said the 66-year-old. “The most recent public polls revealed that 92% of the Japanese population supported Tokyo’s hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so I am confident that 116 million Japanese people are smiling right now.†© 2013 AFP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radioman Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 i'm sure we all expect our respective athletes to bask in their success and glow (literally ) from our appreciation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiceMan Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I'm happy that Tokyo beat Instanbul to become hosts. The Japanese will do a good job of hosting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasathai1 Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 guess who paid the most bribes? not sports, just big business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiceMan Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 The IOC cleaned up its act years ago. Corruption is nowhere near as bad as in other global sporting organizations (FIFA springs to mind). Tokyo won the bid because it has better facilities than Istanbul and more money to improve them further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baa99 Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I hear Japan put up $4 billion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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