Where am I?
Home > Chronicles > Sports > Other Sports > Olympic games
Saturday, November 21 2009 15:40h
TOKYO
Tokyo`s 2016 Bidders Flex Financial Muscles
`Tokyo`s bid has no cash concerns,` Tokyo`s 2016 bid communications manager Masanori Takaya told Reuters on Saturday
Tokyo`s 2016 Bidders Flex Financial Muscles
The Newest Articles
photo: arhiv
Olympic Games

Author
Author
Reuters
Illustrative photo
TEXT
Published: January 17, 2009 09:24h
Tokyo's 2016 Olympic bid has received a major boost after the city allocated an extra $1.1 billion for the Games in it's 2009 fiscal budget.

Tokyo's bid leaders insist the Japanese capital is best placed to emerge from the global financial crisis and host a debt-free Olympics in 2016.

The fresh cash injection of 100 billion yen takes Tokyo's contingency fund for the Games to 400 billion yen ($4.4 billion).

"Tokyo's bid has no cash concerns," Tokyo's 2016 bid communications manager Masanori Takaya told Reuters on Saturday.

"It is one of our strengths that even in the worldwide economic downturn we already have more than $4 billion in our hand. There will be no budget concerns for the Games."

Tokyo, the first Asian city to host the Olympics in 1964, faces competition from Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro in the race to stage the 2016 Summer Games.

Barack Obama's landslide victory in the U.S. presidential election last November was seen to give his home city of Chicago a boost in the bidding race.

However, Tokyo's bid officials believe they have the financial muscle and technical know-how to win the right to host the Olympics for a second time.

"It is further confirmation of our financial strength and security," Tokyo's bid chairman Ichiro Kono said of the increase in funds. "This is important in these difficult economic times."

Tokyo's overall 2009 budget proposal is 6.6 trillion yen (around $73 billion), which 2016 organisers called the largest fiscal budget of any metropolitan government in the world.

MAJOR FACELIFT

The city's investment package coincides with a 10-year plan to give the city a major facelift.

A new survey conducted by Tokyo officials indicated 70 percent support for the Olympic bid nationwide, significantly higher than in previous polls last year.

Backing for the Games from those living in Tokyo was a shade lower at 68.6 percent.

Despite the global credit crisis, a dozen major Japanese corporate sponsors have signed up for Tokyo's 2016 bid, including Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Asics and Descente.

The city's waterfront bid topped the International Olympic Committee's overall technical evaluation last June. Madrid earned the second highest marks.

Tokyo plans to build just five new venues for the 2016 Olympics, while renovating iconic facilities used at the 1964 Games.

"To ensure Tokyo 2016 maximises investment and delivers a long-term, inspirational legacy for future generations, its Games plan is highly sustainable," said Kono.

The bidding cities must submit a candidature file to the International Olympic Committee next month. The IOC will select the winner on Oct. 2. London will stage the 2012 Games.

Related Articles
ADS
FOOTBALL

Cantona slams Domenech and Henry

I think that Raymond Domenech is the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI -...
FOOTBALL

Sudan on high alert for crunch Algeria-Egypt tie

State-owned flag-carrier Air Algerie unveiled plans on Sunday to fly 10,000 Algerian fans...
NO PLACE FOR KLOSE

No place for Klose despite swine flu all-clear

The striker was not with the Germany squad in Hanover on Sunday for the memorial service...
CLASH WITH POLICE

24 hurt as Egyptians clash with police

The interior ministry said 24 people, including 11 police, were hurt and 15 cars were...
POINTS PENALTY

UEFA overturn Dinamo Zagreb points penalty

Dinamo had also been banned from allowing fans into their stadium for their next two Europa...
BEST OF THE WORST

World Cup's not so magic moments

AFP Sports looks at some of the best of the worst World Cup moments.
MATCH-FIXING SCANDAL

Europe rocked by fresh match-fixing scandal

Police carried out around 50 raids on Thursday in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Austria,...

ADS
------------------





Copyright © 2006-2009 Javno.com   All rights reserved.