Tokyo to Host 2020 Summer Games

Tokyo, Japan, has been selected to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. The International Olympic Committee selected the city over rival bids from Istanbul, Turkey, and Madrid, Spain. The vote came Saturday during the IOC’s meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tokyo beat out Istanbul 60-36 in the final round of voting. Istanbul and Madrid had tied for second in the initial round of voting, forcing a vote to determine which would advance to the final round against Tokyo.

The decision marks the second time the Japanese city has been chosen as the host of an Olympics and the first time since 1964. In selecting Tokyo, the IOC chose to keep the Games in Asia for two consecutive events. The 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Tokyo Governor and 2020 Bid Chairman Naoki Inose said the bid gained momentum in recent months. “As a recent poll shows, 92 percent of our population are in favor of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games and excitement is building every day,” Inose said. “We believe we have shown that Tokyo is the right partner for the International Olympic Committee and will host a safe and incredible city-center celebration.  Considering the world economy recently, for a true celebration, for a party for mankind like the Olympic and Paralympic Games, strong evidence exists that Tokyo has the ability to deliver.”

IOC President Jacques Rogge, whose 12-year term in office comes to an end on September 10, praised the Tokyo bid effort. “Tokyo presented a very strong technical bid from the outset—and it needed to in competition with two such high-caliber 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-organized and safe Games that will reinforce the Olympic values while demonstrating the benefits of sport to a new generation.”