Statement by MEXT Minister on Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

May 24, 2012  

Tokyo’s selection as a Candidate City for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a great honour for both Tokyo 2020 and the entire nation of Japan.

The selection is a direct result of the tremendous effort and passion of everyone involved in our bid. It acknowledges the value of our unique concept to host the most compact urban Games in history, and recognises Japan’s accomplished record of having hosted many successful international sports events.

Hosting the Games at this time would also give us the opportunity to show the international community our recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, is working closely with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese Olympic Committee, and will now make an all-out effort to bring the Games to Japan in 2020.