Tokyo won the bid and was chosen to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires today, beating Istanbul at the votes after Madrid were eliminated in the opening round. Tokyo received 60 votes to Istanbul's 36.
Japan celebrates, and it's not the first time: Tokyo had indeed already hosted the Games back in 1964, and the legacy of that Olympic edition was part of the 2020 bidding plan of the Japanese organizers.
Tokyo 2020's plan - Eleven new venues will be built, for a total of 33 venues to be used at Games time. Venues will be distributed in two different areas of Tokyo: the Heritage and the Tokyo Bay, and most of the sports will be staged within a few kilometers from the Olympic Village. A new Shooting Sport venue located in the surrounding of the 1964 venue was announced by Tokyo 2020's Bid Committee.
Congratulations to Tokyo - “The ISSF congratulates the city of Tokyo on its election.” The ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña and the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber said, speaking from Buenos Aires, today. “All three candidates made some excellent presentations. But unfortunately only one can win. We applaud Tokyo 2020's Bid Committee for their success, and we are looking forward to come to Tokyo in seven years!”
“Congratulations to the city of Tokyo on its election as host of the 2020 Olympic Games,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge “Tokyo presented a very strong technical bid from the outset – and it needed to in competition with two such high-calibre bids from Istanbul and Madrid. All three cities were capable of staging excellent Games in 2020, but in the end it was Tokyo’s bid that resonated the most with the IOC membership, inviting us to “discover tomorrow” by delivering a well-organised and safe Games that will reinforce the Olympic values while demonstrating the benefits of sport to a new generation.”
“We are confident that 2020 will be a memorable and exciting year for Japan, and also that the Tokyo 2020 will inspire children worldwide. Japan is united as one, and let’s continue to work hard together to ensure the best possible 2020 Games. Thank you very much all for your support once again.” The Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee stated.