Olympics: OCA president supports Tokyo 2016 bid+

SINGAPORE, July 3 Kyodo -
Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara has gained support for the city's bid for the 2016
Summer Olympics from Olympic Council of Asia President Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah.
Ishihara met with Ahmad in the morning prior to attending the OCA general
assembly in Singapore on Friday. Ahmad suggested he will give his cooperation
for the Tokyo 2016 bid as the representative of Asia.
''As a member of Asia, I feel friendship and nothing but reassurances,'' said
Ishihara, who also said he expects to travel to Berlin for the athletics world
championships in August to lobby for Tokyo 2016.
At the closing of the general assembly, Ahmad said he hopes that Tokyo will be
chosen for the 2016 Olympics since it is a city in the Asia region. However,
Ahmad's support will not have any direct connection with securing votes in
Asia.
According to Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda, Ahmad said,
''I would be happier if Tokyo is selected from the candidate cities.''
The JOC has been pushing for support from the OCA in response to the European
Olympic Committees throwing its weight behind Madrid's bid in May.
''I am extremely pleased that he (Ahmad) has expressed his support,'' Takeda said.
Tokyo is vying against Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro for the 2016
Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will make a final vote to select
a city on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen.
==Kyodo
2009-07-03 23:01:29