Beijing, China, 3 August 2008 – A strong team from Tokyo 2016 today arrived in Beijing for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Observer Program and to gain insight from the Olympic Family to enhance further its inspirational Games concept.

Dr Ichiro Kono, the Chairman and CEO of Japan’s Bid to host the most compact Games ever held is particularly interested in learning more about Beijing 2008’s competition venues, Olympic Village and sustainable legacy plans. He said:

“The world is talking about the ‘Bird’s Nest’ and ‘Water Cube’ and President Rogge has given high praise to Beijing 2008’s preparations and Olympic Village. Our Applicant City File may have received high marks from the IOC in June, including our own Olympic Village concept, but we have much to learn from the 2008 Games and the Olympic Family here in Beijing.

“The IOC Observer Programme gives us an invaluable chance to gain ‘live’ insight across the board, such as looking at how we can not only meet, but exceed the needs of the world’s finest athletes. We will be exploring every possible way to enhance our sports venues and infrastructure, while paying close attention to sustainability and the environment.

“In Tokyo, we are proud of the incredible sustainable legacy we maintained from hosting the 1964 Games, with venues that today still host world-class competition and regular use by the community. The Tokyo 2016 Games concept will see an inspiring combination uniting legacy venues from the 1964 Games with much needed state-of-the-art new facilities. This will create a new sporting legacy for at least another 50 years and a showcase of sustainability for the Olympic Movement.”

Tokyo’s Bid chief will be joined in Beijing by the Prime Minister of Japan, Yasuo Fukuda, who is a Supreme Advisor to the Bid; the Governor of Tokyo and President of Tokyo 2016, Shintaro Ishihara; Japan’s two IOC members: the Vice President of the IOC, Chiharu Igaya, and Shun-ichiro Okano; the President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2016 Vice President, Tsunekazu Takeda; Tokyo 2016 Sports Director, Toru Hirakata; leading Olympians and Paralympians from the Tokyo 2016 Athletes’ Commission and Ambassadors Programme and other members of the Bid Committee.

For further information, please contact:
Mihoko Nakagawa (Ms), Director, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, +86-137-1825-3414 (Beijing), mihoko.nakagawa@tokyo2016.or.jp
Masa Takaya (Mr), Manager, International Communications, Tokyo 2016
+81-3-5320-2480, +86-137-1825-3805 (Beijing), masanori.takaya@tokyo2016.or.jp