ID :
84169
Sun, 10/11/2009 - 21:07
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http://m.oananews.org//node/84169
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Hiroshima, Nagasaki to pursue 2020 Summer Olympics bid
+
HIROSHIMA, Oct. 11 Kyodo -
The mayors of Japan's two atomic-bombed cities expressed their desire Sunday to
host the 2020 Summer Olympics, just a week after Tokyo's bid to host the 2016
Olympic Games was dashed.
''The Olympics symbolizes the abolition of nuclear arms and world peace, and we
want to work to realize our plan to host it,'' Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba
told a press conference in the city, also attended by Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa
Taue.
The mayors also said they have decided to set up a joint committee to invite
the Olympics to their cities, while encouraging neighboring municipalities to
join their effort so that multiple cities host the world sports festival.
The panel will make a decision on whether the proposed hosting of the Olympics
is feasible, according to the two cities.
'' By jointly hosting it, we will be able to propose a new path for the
Olympics, which has been hosted single-handedly by a large city,'' Akiba said,
while Taue said, ''It will be a new challenge for the atomic-bombed cities.''
The announcement came after Akiba expressed the hope at an international peace
meeting in Mexico City last month to see all nuclear weapons eliminated by 2020
and to stage the Olympics in Hiroshima and Nagasaki the same year to celebrate
a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Akiba plans to visit the Japanese Olympic Committee on Tuesday and consult with
JOC officials about the plan. He is also expected to make the case to the
government in the near future.
Tokyo's hopes of hosting the 2016 Games were dashed earlier this month, with
Rio de Janeiro winning the right to stage the event. Tokyo has yet to decide
whether to bid for the 2020 Olympics, with the winner to be chosen by the
International Olympic Committee in 2013.
Hiroshima hosted the Asian Games, a regional version of the Olympic Games, in
1994. About 7,300 athletes from 42 countries and regions took part.
The JOC praised the two cities for the concept of holding an Olympics under the
banner of ridding the world of nuclear weapons, but added that the IOC might
find it difficult to accept a bid on that premise alone.
''The concept to host the Olympics is wonderful. But I believe it would be
difficult for the IOC to accept it just on the basis of abolishing nuclear
weapons. We would like to discuss the matter, including whether a joint hosting
is feasible under the Olympic charter,'' said JOC Secretary General Noriyuki
Ichihara.
JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda said he is pleased that the two cities are
showing interest in bidding, but also had questions about joint hosting.
''Hosting the Olympics is the pinnacle of the Olympic movement. The JOC wants
to welcome cities who take interest in hosting the games. But we have to
analyze the Olympic charter,'' Takeda said.
''We have to look at Tokyo's failed bid first and assess whether a candidate
can win a bid for 2020.''
Only one city may apply from each country.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told reporters in Osaka Prefecture the
planned bid for the 2020 Olympics by Hiroshima and Nagasaki may be ''one
approach to be adopted by a country calling for the abolition of nuclear
weapons.''
But the top government spokesman declined to elaborate further, saying he has
not heard that Tokyo has decided to forgo bidding for the 2020 Olympics.
Meanwhile, the announcement by the mayors drew a mixed reaction.
Sunao Tsuboi, who heads Nihon Hidankyo or Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb
Suffers Organization, welcomed the move, saying ''The hosting the 2020 Olympics
will match our A-bomb sufferers' wish to aim to eliminate all nuclear arms by
that year.''
Although he had the impression that the plan had come out of the blue, Tsuboi
said that hosting the games would be significant as it would provide a chance
for athletes and spectators from around the world to see the reality of A-bomb
survivors.
But some A-bomb survivors questioned the ambition of the two mayors, noting the
hefty funds required to host the world's premier sports event.
Hirotami Yamada, secretary general of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council,
said, ''The Olympics today is basically a big celebration. Hosting the games
would cost a huge amount, and I doubt if we have that kind of money.''
''Instead, we should hold events to promote peace,'' Yamada added.
==Kyodo
2009-10-11 21:59:50
HIROSHIMA, Oct. 11 Kyodo -
The mayors of Japan's two atomic-bombed cities expressed their desire Sunday to
host the 2020 Summer Olympics, just a week after Tokyo's bid to host the 2016
Olympic Games was dashed.
''The Olympics symbolizes the abolition of nuclear arms and world peace, and we
want to work to realize our plan to host it,'' Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba
told a press conference in the city, also attended by Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa
Taue.
The mayors also said they have decided to set up a joint committee to invite
the Olympics to their cities, while encouraging neighboring municipalities to
join their effort so that multiple cities host the world sports festival.
The panel will make a decision on whether the proposed hosting of the Olympics
is feasible, according to the two cities.
'' By jointly hosting it, we will be able to propose a new path for the
Olympics, which has been hosted single-handedly by a large city,'' Akiba said,
while Taue said, ''It will be a new challenge for the atomic-bombed cities.''
The announcement came after Akiba expressed the hope at an international peace
meeting in Mexico City last month to see all nuclear weapons eliminated by 2020
and to stage the Olympics in Hiroshima and Nagasaki the same year to celebrate
a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Akiba plans to visit the Japanese Olympic Committee on Tuesday and consult with
JOC officials about the plan. He is also expected to make the case to the
government in the near future.
Tokyo's hopes of hosting the 2016 Games were dashed earlier this month, with
Rio de Janeiro winning the right to stage the event. Tokyo has yet to decide
whether to bid for the 2020 Olympics, with the winner to be chosen by the
International Olympic Committee in 2013.
Hiroshima hosted the Asian Games, a regional version of the Olympic Games, in
1994. About 7,300 athletes from 42 countries and regions took part.
The JOC praised the two cities for the concept of holding an Olympics under the
banner of ridding the world of nuclear weapons, but added that the IOC might
find it difficult to accept a bid on that premise alone.
''The concept to host the Olympics is wonderful. But I believe it would be
difficult for the IOC to accept it just on the basis of abolishing nuclear
weapons. We would like to discuss the matter, including whether a joint hosting
is feasible under the Olympic charter,'' said JOC Secretary General Noriyuki
Ichihara.
JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda said he is pleased that the two cities are
showing interest in bidding, but also had questions about joint hosting.
''Hosting the Olympics is the pinnacle of the Olympic movement. The JOC wants
to welcome cities who take interest in hosting the games. But we have to
analyze the Olympic charter,'' Takeda said.
''We have to look at Tokyo's failed bid first and assess whether a candidate
can win a bid for 2020.''
Only one city may apply from each country.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told reporters in Osaka Prefecture the
planned bid for the 2020 Olympics by Hiroshima and Nagasaki may be ''one
approach to be adopted by a country calling for the abolition of nuclear
weapons.''
But the top government spokesman declined to elaborate further, saying he has
not heard that Tokyo has decided to forgo bidding for the 2020 Olympics.
Meanwhile, the announcement by the mayors drew a mixed reaction.
Sunao Tsuboi, who heads Nihon Hidankyo or Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb
Suffers Organization, welcomed the move, saying ''The hosting the 2020 Olympics
will match our A-bomb sufferers' wish to aim to eliminate all nuclear arms by
that year.''
Although he had the impression that the plan had come out of the blue, Tsuboi
said that hosting the games would be significant as it would provide a chance
for athletes and spectators from around the world to see the reality of A-bomb
survivors.
But some A-bomb survivors questioned the ambition of the two mayors, noting the
hefty funds required to host the world's premier sports event.
Hirotami Yamada, secretary general of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council,
said, ''The Olympics today is basically a big celebration. Hosting the games
would cost a huge amount, and I doubt if we have that kind of money.''
''Instead, we should hold events to promote peace,'' Yamada added.
==Kyodo
2009-10-11 21:59:50
