(ATR) Tokyo 2020 was already in the works when the catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency struck in March. The previous bid for 2016 was pitched as a project to renew venues from the 1964 Olympics and prepare new ones for the next generation. Now the Olympic bid is seen as a way to use sport to help the nation recover from the devastation.
Strengths: Legacy venues from 1964. Well-developed plan from 2016 bid. Experience as international sports host.
Weaknesses: Ineffectual national government. Demands of disaster vs. Olympic bid. Slumping economy. No IOC members in Japan following retirements of Chick Igaya and Sunichiro Okano at end of this year.
Possible Storylines: Olympics will boost the national spirit as it recovers from tragedy.
Leadership: Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Shintaro Ishihara is driving force for bid. Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda leads sport movement.
Past Bids: 2016, Osaka for 2012.
Population: 13 million
Written by Ed Hula
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