Olympics: Hatoyama stresses environment in 2016 Olympic bid+

COPENHAGEN, Oct. 2 Kyodo -
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama stressed the notion of environmental
friendliness as he threw his weight Friday behind Tokyo's final push to host
the 2016 Olympics during its presentation in Copenhagen, urging the
International Olympic Committee to choose the Japanese capital.

''I have made it my mission to come to Copenhagen to express my strong support
for Tokyo as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,'' said
Hatoyama said during the presentation made by Tokyo ahead of the final vote by
the IOC later in the day to decide on the host city of the 2016 Summer
Olympics.
''I am here with my wife, Miyuki, to convey to you in person the heartfelt wish
of the people of Japan to host the Olympic Games in Tokyo.''
Tokyo is hoping its emphasis on a green, compact Olympics Games will help bring
sport's showcase event to Japan for the first time in 52 years.
It plans to use several renovated venues from the 1964 Games while its Olympic
Stadium would be the first in the world to be powered by solar energy.
''The International Olympic Committee has played an important role in the
development of the sport, culture and environment agenda as the essential
missions of the Olympic Movement. I wholeheartedly support this vision,'' said
Hatoyama, who took office on Sept. 16 after guiding the Democratic Party of
Japan to a landslide victory in the Aug. 30 general election.
''That is why I announced an ambitious goal for greenhouse gas emissions
reduction, '25% by 2020,' in my address to the United Nations General Assembly
last week. That is also part of the reason why I am recommending Tokyo for the
2016 Olympic Games. Tokyo is indeed well positioned to serve as a future model
of public safety and environmental stability.''
''In hosting the 2016 Games, Tokyo will show the world how a major metropolis
can flourish without detriment to the environment,'' he said.
Later on Friday, Hatoyama told reporters, ''I hope for a win as we have come
this far. The Tokyo (presentation) team has done its best.''
The premier said he believes he made a successful presentation about Japan's
determination to stress the environment.
The other cities vying for the games are Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid.
Tokyo's presentation followed Chicago's, in which U.S. President Barack Obama
and his wife Michele both made impassioned speeches.
The president said, ''I urge you to choose Chicago. And if you do, if we walk
this path together, then I promise you this: the city of Chicago and the United
States of America will make the world proud.''
The first lady said a Chicago Olympics would ''light up lives'' across the world.
The city receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated round-by-round until one
candidate secures a majority.
Osaka was the last Japanese city to bid to host the Summer Olympics but it was
eliminated in 2001 in the first round of voting for the 2008 Games, which went
to Beijing.
==Kyodo