Olympics-Q&A with Tokyo 2016 bid chief Ichiro Kono

Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:02pm EDT

BERLIN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee will elect the winning bid for the 2016 Olympics on Oct. 2. Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid are bidding.

Herewith a Q&A with Tokyo 2016 bid chief Ichiro Kono.

REUTERS: Why should your city be awarded the 2016 Olympics?

KONO: "Tokyo 2016 is setting the stage for heroes with the most compact, sustainable and athlete-friendly Games plan ever.

"Fully guaranteed by the Tokyo and Japanese governments, and with $4 billion already set aside for venues and Olympic-related infrastructure development, Tokyo 2016 is the most dependable of Olympic partners in challenging economic times.

"Tokyo 2016 also offers a unique 100-year Olympic and Paralympic legacy, connecting youth worldwide with sport and showcasing a model city for a greener future."


REUTERS: What is the strength of your bid and what would you want to improve if you had more time?

KONO: "We are confident that our unique offer reflects the invaluable insights of Olympic and Paralympic Family members worldwide.

"Athletes, international federations, National Olympic Committees, sponsors and sports enthusiasts have all helped us formulate our innovative plan, so the Tokyo 2016 plan is as much a product of their vision as the bid's.

"Tokyo 2016's compactness and sustainability are major strengths, as is the fact that its Games plan has been developed in collaboration with elite athletes from its earliest stages.

"It offers complete financial dependability, and already has an incredibly strong record of engaging young people with sport, healthy living and the Olympic Movement.

"Under the ultra-compact Tokyo 2016 Games plan, 97 percent of competition venues will be located within an 8km radius of central Tokyo. 75 percent of competitors will have travel times of less than 10 minutes from the Village to their competition venues, and all competitors will be less than 25 minutes from state-of-the-art training facilities. This will ensure that athletes can concentrate on delivering memorable performances.

"Tokyo 2016 also enjoys huge and ever-increasing support across all sections of Japanese society, ensuring full competition venues and a seamless integration of the greatest sporting event on earth with the planet's largest city."


REUTERS: Given that some recent Games have left behind little in terms of legacy what would the legacy be for your city and the IOC, should it win the Games?

KONO: "Tokyo 2016 offers a tangible and realistic 100-year legacy, comprising world class facilities which will be enjoyed by everyone from the general public to elite competitors.

"Its sporting legacy fulfils the needs of the local community and international sport federations.

"As a demonstration of Japan's expertise in sporting sustainability, each of the 21 venues from the Tokyo 1964 Games are still in use today, often on a daily basis.

"Tokyo 2016 plans to further refurbish them to ensure they are the setting for peak performances during the Games, and of major use ... long afterwards. Five new, permanent venues also have detailed plans for long-term use."


REUTERS: With bids forced to follow a strict set of IOC guidelines and criteria, what is the innovative aspect of your proposal that makes it unique.

KONO: "Tokyo 2016 offers the most compact Games plan in Olympic and Paralympic history, and its location in the heart of the world's largest city will ensure maximum public engagement. A potential prime time viewing audience of 3 billion people across Asia is also offered uniquely by Tokyo 2016.

"The financial guarantees given by the Tokyo and Japanese governments will ensure peace of mind for the Olympic Movement, as will the fact that our programmes to bring the Olympic values to classrooms throughout Japan.


REUTERS: How is your Games budget structured and what sort of guarantees are you offering the IOC?

KONO: "Tokyo 2016 has a realistic OCOG budget of $3.1 billion, which is fully guaranteed by both the Japanese national government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG).

"The TMG has the largest budget of any city in the world, and has already set aside and banked $4 billion for Tokyo 2016's non-OCOG budget, which comprises development of competition venues and Games-related infrastructure."


REUTERS: What impact has the financial crisis had on your plans and do you see it affecting the vote?

KONO: "With its fully-guaranteed and realistic budget, Tokyo 2016 is the most dependable of partners for the Olympic Movement in a challenging global economic climate.

"Sustainability is at the heart of its Games vision, which will deliver state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly sports facilities, enhanced transport and a healthier urban environment to Japan's dynamic capital city.

"In turn, this will ensure cost-effectiveness and long-term benefits for the city, elite international athletes and major cities worldwide."


REUTERS: In terms of major venue construction what still needs to be built and what is already existing?

KONO: "23 out of 34 proposed venues for Tokyo 2016 already exist, and will each be refurbished at a necessary scale to become state-of-the-art stages for competition.

"Seventeen of these only request minor modifications to upgrade them for the Games and beyond, while six will benefit from complete redevelopment into iconic centres for world sport.

"Of the 11 other new venues that will be constructed for the Games, five permanent venues - including the Olympic Stadium - will remain in their locations as a permanent legacy for sport in central Tokyo. Six temporary venues will also be relocated or recycled following the Games."


REUTERS: How much do you believe sponsors/broadcasters can influence the 2016 vote as major deals are still pending?

KONO: "As noted in the IOC Evaluation Commission Report, 'there is a strong tradition of sponsorship and licensing in the Tokyo and Japanese markets.

"Given the size of the market and corporate presence in Tokyo and Japan, and experience in achieving good ticket sales for major sports events, the marketing plan and revenue targets appear to be very reasonable and achievable'.

"Tokyo, Japan and the continent of Asia are attractive sporting and commercial markets, and Tokyo 2016 can therefore deliver unique business opportunities for the Olympic Movement.

"Tokyo Games in 2016 also offers a potential prime-time TV viewing audience of 3 billion people, which would constitute the largest ever viewing pool for the Olympic Movement and be particularly beneficial to sponsors and advertisers.

"Much of this huge potential audience is young, increasingly affluent and ready to engage with new ideas and new sports.

"We have been thrilled by the success of our commercial sponsorship campaigns, and now have a remarkable 17 partner companies. These renowned, forward-looking organisations have huge confidence in Tokyo 2016 and its potential to deliver a memorable Games with a lasting legacy. We will not disappoint them."


REUTERS: What political support will you have on-site in Copenhagen?

KONO: "We are confident that the IOC fully understands that our Bid has the strong backing of Japan's political leadership, and believe that those representing Tokyo 2016 in Copenhagen will serve to demonstrate this once again.

"We look forward to working with Japan's new government, and to prepare together to welcome the world to the heart of Japan's dynamic capital city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

(Compiled by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)