The 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games host city will be decided at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session by IOC members on 7 September 2013. MEXT is closely collaborating with the city of Tokyo, the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), and the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee, by providing invaluable assistance to win the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games for Tokyo.

The host city will be chosen out of the three Candidate Cities of Tokyo, Madrid (Spain) and Istanbul (Turkey).

How hosting the Games will be beneficial for Japan

Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games will increase people’s interest in sports, help develop sports programmes for people across the country, increase friendly relations between countries and also revitalize local communities. Staging the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will also serve as a symbol of Japan’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Supporting athletes

MEXT is working hard to improve athletes’ international competitiveness through the Multi-Support Project which will allow athletes to achieve further success at international competitions. Under such initiatives, the National Training Center has been upgraded to international standards, and future-Olympians are provided with strategic and complete support in a variety of areas including sports medicine and science, information strategy, nutrition, psychology and so on.

At the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Japanese team won a record 38 medals, along with winning prizes in 80 events and finished in 6th place in overall medal rankings.

Realizing the inspiration generated from the London Games in Japan

The Japanese team’s huge success at the London Olympics and Paralympics inspired and energised the Japanese people. Following the London Games, the IOC announced that Japan’s public support rate in Tokyo alone was 70% - a vivid demonstration of the county’s keen appetite for sport and the inspiration generated from the London Games.
Public support is indispensable towards realising the 2020 Tokyo Games. MEXT kindly asks the nation for its continued assistance and support.