Olympics: Medallists parade to boost Tokyo bid

TOKYO: All the Japanese medallists from the London Olympics will take part in a parade in Tokyo on Monday as part of efforts to boost the city’s bid to host the 2020 Games. The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) said that the 76 athletes will travel down upmarket Ginza street in convertible cars and buses, the first time that the body has organised such a parade. “We want to stage the parade as a token of thanks for people who have supported us,” said JOC president Tsunekazu Takeda. “It will be great if this will help boost the momentum of Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic bid.” Tokyo lost its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, which was won by Rio de Janeiro, and tepid public support was cited as a reason for the defeat.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2012.