And the winner is… ecstatic Japanese delegates celebrate the decision to award Tokyo the 2020 Olympic games. Photo: AP
The International Olympic Committee made their final vote on September 7, selecting Tokyo over the two other final candidates, Instabul, Turkey and Madrid, Spain, according to CNN.
Tokyo finished first in the first round of voting, and after Madrid was eliminated, the Japanese city was ultimately picked over Instanbul.
Tokyo’s budget bid came in at $5 billion to $6 billion, a measly cost compared to Instanbul’s $19 billion bid. It also helped Tokyo’s case that the city has already amassed $4.9 billion to help pay for the Olympic games.
This will be the second time Tokyo has hosted the games, after doing so in 1964.
The one roadblock for having the games in Tokyo is that cleanup following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster is only progressing slowly.
But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe assured the Olympics committee that the city would be totally ready to take on the burden and make all repairs.
“Some may have concerns about Fukushima. Let me assure you, the situation is under control. It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo,” Shinzo said.
The city is also rich with culture, tradition, and youthful energy and it will be a vibrant host to the rest of the world. And you know citizens of Tokyo are excited – after the selection was announced, members of the Japanese delegation reportedly burst into tears. – Hollywood Life
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