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Tokyo airs woes over losing effort

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-05 07:02

TOKYO: Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara blamed his city's failure to win the right to host the 2016 Games on behind-the-scenes deals, saying Japanese sports officials must become more adept in dealing with the inner workings of the International Olympic Committee.

"Tokyo's presentation was far better than the others," Ishihara said at a press conference yesterday. "But invisible dynamics were at play. It is a game that is very difficult to win."

Ishihara said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made "daring promises" to African people and that French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to support Rio's bid if Brazil bought French-made fighter jets.

"I don't know how relevant these promises were but they seem to be in violation of IOC rules," Ishihara said. "This is part of the discomfort I have with the bid process."

The 77-year-old Ishihara also said Japanese sports officials have to do a better job of influencing the IOC.

"The Japanese Olympic Committee has to be strengthened," Ishihara said. "Young hot shots have to go into the core of the IOC."

On the possibility of Tokyo bidding for the 2020 Olympics, Ishihara said it is up to the will of the people.

Ishihara, a well-known nationalist and co-author of the 1989 book The Japan that Can Say No, declared in 2005 that Tokyo would bid for the 2016 Olympics.

AP

(China Daily 10/05/2009 page5)