Tokyo Mayor Pushes Olympic Bid; Rome 2020 CEO; Annecy Cuts Exec

Tokyo Mayor-Elect Confirms Bid Plans

Shintaro Ishihara won reelection as Tokyo Governor and pledged to bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Ishihara, who spearheaded Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Olympics captured nearly 43% of the vote to secure a fourth term in office.

At his acceptance speech, the 78-year old Ishihara was quoted in media reports saying an Olympic bid would help the country recuperate from the March 11 earthquake that devastated northeastern Japan.

"Although the 2020 Games are nine years from now, we can start raising our hand now, If we work hard with hope for nine years ahead, it will be a big catalyst for our country's reconstruction and revival," he said.

First, however, the Japanese Olympic Committee must approve Tokyo’s bid. Hiroshima has also declared its candidacy for the 2020 Olympics.

Another obstacle for the bid is that the federal government appears unwilling to support a bid.

One of Japan’s foreign ambassadors said recently made comments suggesting Japan would not bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Deadline to apply to bid for 2020 is Sept. 1.

JOC vice president Masato Mizuno also believes a bid would help the country.

"We need to send a message to the world that Japan is ready to continue hosting major events.

"On a national level we need to be hosting major international events to inspire the whole nation and to encourage the people of Japan to move forward," he told Around the Ringsat a media roundtable during SportAccord.

"They will help the international community realize that most of Japan is functioning normally and remains a world-class sporting destination."

Rome Names CEO

Still in transition from his current job, Ernesto Albanese is about to take on the post of CEO of the Rome bid for the 2020 Olympics. The Rome bid is the only one so far for 2020 which has the endorsement of an NOC.

Albanese is the former director general for CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee. He left CONI on 2009 to become CEO of ATA Hotels, based in Milan.

Albanese attended last week’s SportAccord with CONI President Gianni Petrucci and secretary general Raffaelle Pagnozzi.

Annecy Dismisses Concerns Over Resignation

Annecy 2018 tells Around the Rings that reports the bid has suffered another setback with the departure of its deputy director general are off the mark.

A bid spokesman dismissed suggestions that internal conflicts were the reason Herve Madore resigned. The move came following the completion of his work on the technical aspects of the bid.

An Annecy statement Monday said Madore has decided to leave his position on the bid to move on to a new opportunity with the French ministry of sport.

"Our president, Charles Beigbeder and the rest of the team are all enormously grateful for the contributions he has made to the bid; particularly in leading the production of our excellent bid book," the statement said.

"We wish him well in his new position and thank him for the role he has played in helping us develop a bid we believe can win the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games."

It added: "We have a committed and talented team in place who can deliver in every area required in the final phase of our campaign. We will continue to do everything we can to make this bid a success."

Following the surprise appearance by Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger in support of the bid at SportAccord in London last week, the bid is preparing to wheel out more bid ambassadors from French sport this week.

French IOC member Jean-Claude Killy was a notable absentee from SportAccord, prompting questions about how supportive he will be in the build-up to the July 6 IOC vote on a host city.

Annecy CEO Charles Beigbeider explained Killy's absence by saying the triple Olympic champion had a longstanding commitment and could not attend the convention.

"He is not here physically, but he is with us," Beigbeder told a press conference following the Annecy 2018 presentation to delegates. Killy appeared in a video.

Beigbeder promised that Killy would be at the IOC's 2018 bid cities briefing in Lausanne, May 18 to 19, and be part of the bid team in Durban for the host city vote on July 6.

South African Olympic Boss Tips Durban

South African Olympic Committee President Gideon Sam says there may be a favorite for a possible 2020 Olympic bid.

Speaking to the Associated Press, he said "The economies of scale will tip it in the direction of Durban but that final decision has to be taken."

Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth are the other South African cities bidding. SASCOC will select one of those cities to bid, and then the national government must approve a bid.

However, the committee seems to have a silver medal for bidding in its sights as well.

"If we don't win on the Olympics, there is 2022 for the Commonwealth Games."

Written by Ed Hula III and Mark Bisson.