Bidding for the Games - Madrid Logo; Tokyo Support; "Good Start" for Oslo 2022

Heiberg Says Oslo Bid Off to Good Start

IOC member from Norway Gerhard Heiberg tells Around the Rings that he is delighted with the "good start" for plans to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Oslo.

"Last week we won the support of the city council with only seven of 59 votes against. This weekend we had 90 percent support of the sports federations," says Heiberg.

"I think it sends a strong message".

He says the next steps to take include defining the concept and the investment needed to deliver the Games. Longer term will be securing support of the national government.

Oslo would be bidding for its second winter Games after hosting 1952. Norway last hosted a Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994, which will also host the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Bidding for the 2022 Winter Games will open next year, soon after the 2020 host city is chosen Sep.7, 2013.

Madrid Logo

Madrid 2020 unveiled its new logo.

The bid committee keeps the look of the logo from their applicant phase, adding "Candidate City" and most importantly the Olympic Rings.

"We are now a Candidate City and the IOC has also given a very positive assessment of our project," bid president Alejandro Blanco said.

"We now have to work hard to deliver a comprehensive dossier that shows everyone the strength of our bid and will help bring us the Games, which will provide a major boost for Spain."

Istanbul remains the only one of the three 2020 bids without an IOC-approved logo.

Japan Women’s Football Backs Tokyo 2020

Japan's Women's World Cup champions have thrown their weight behind Tokyo's 2020 Olympics bid as they enter the final weeks of training before the London 2012 football tournament.

Nadeshiko captain Aya Miyama said: "I plan to leave London with no regrets. Japan needs a goal to strive for, and there is nothing better for that than the Olympics.

"The Olympic Games has always served as a dream, the ultimate goal for Japanese women’s football players.

"It would be fantastic if people who watch us in London also think about how wonderful it would be to host the Games in Tokyo. I know the bid committee is giving the effort their best shot, just like we plan to do in London."

In return, Tokyo 2020 board member Daichi Suzuki offered his support for the Japan's women's team at this summer's Games.

"Enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of the Olympics. It’s important to build a team spirit here at the training camp, and I look forward to watching you build on that to perform at your absolute peak," he said.

Glasgow 2018 YOG Consultants

There will be no fanfare of trumpets for the announcement, but Jon Tibbs Associates will work with the Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic Games Bid.

Jon Tibbs, head of JTA, tells Around the Rings the firm is working with the bid but won’t be issuing any statements, with the intention of staying "low key".

JTA, an international Olympics consultancy, has worked with multiple Olympic bid cities, including Istanbul 2020 and Munich 2018 most recently.

Buenos Aires; Medellin, Colombia; Guadalajara, Mexico; Poznan, Poland and Rotterdam, the Netherlands are the other 2018 YOG bid cities. A decision will come in 2013.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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