Officers from Sapporo and the Japanese Olympic Committee have introduced a call to withdraw the northern Japanese metropolis as a candidate to host the 2030 Winter Olympics
ByMARI YAMAGUCHI Related Press
October 11, 2023, 6:30 AM
TOKYO — Officers from Sapporo and the Japanese Olympic Committee on Wednesday introduced a call to withdraw the northern Japanese metropolis as a candidate to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, with the trouble dirty by large corruption and bid-rigging tied to the one-year delayed Tokyo Video games.
Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto and JOC President Yasuhiro Yamashita, at a joint information convention in Tokyo, mentioned they’re withdrawing due to the dearth of help from the residents whose belief was largely misplaced due to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic corruption {cases} that erupted final 12 months.
“We couldn’t acquire understanding from the residents,” Akimoto advised reporters. “There was a widespread sense of uneasiness among the many residents concerning the legal {cases} associated to the 2020 Tokyo Video games, and they’re additionally nervous about their monetary burden for internet hosting the video games.”
Previous to the announcement, the 2 officers met in Tokyo to finalize their resolution. It comes simply as Stockholm, Sweden, is now seen as the favourite for 2030 and Salt Lake Metropolis nearly sure to be picked for 2034 by the Worldwide Olympic Committee.
The 2 officers mentioned they may proceed to hunt Sapporo’s doable candidacy for 2034 or later, however chances are high thought of slim and their discuss for 2034 is seen as an try to avoid wasting face.
The widespread scandal has tarnished the Olympic picture in Japan and dented Sapporo’s bid.
At its heart is a former govt at highly effective promoting firm Dentsu who joined the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee in 2014. Haruyuki Takahashi, who used nice affect in arranging sponsorships for the video games, says he’s harmless and his trial has but to start.
Fifteen individuals at 5 firms face trial within the bribery scandal. Amongst them are Aoki Holdings, a clothes firm that offered uniforms for Japan’s Olympic workforce; Solar Arrow, which made the mascots; and Japanese publishing home Kadokawa, whose govt was discovered responsible on Tuesday of bribing Takahashi.
Japan formally spent about $13 billon to carry the 2020 Video games, although a authorities audit has instructed the true quantity is perhaps twice that a lot.
___
AP protection of the Paris Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games