Sports, Business Leaders Praise for Tokyo 2020

(ATR) Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman and WADA president John Fahey were among the sports leaders who spoke to Around the Rings about Tokyo’s dramatic victory.

Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman congratulated Tokyo on winning, telling ATR the city "did a very good presentation. It will be fantastic Games". "Tokyo is a vibrant city with a true passion for sport, and I am sure they will organise wonderful Games in 2020," he said in a statement. "Tokyo will always hold a very special place in my heart, as it is the city in which I began my own Olympic journey, competing in the 1964 Games as a volleyball athlete.

"My colleagues and I look forward to working closely together with our friends in Tokyo, to share our experience of preparing for and hosting the Games in 2016, just as London has done for us."

WADA president John Fahey told ATR he was pleased that Tokyo had won: "Tokyo has been an outstanding contributor in the fight against doping. They have a very good anti-doping organization with wonderful government support and they have the only mobile lab in the world. We look forward to 2020 with the knowledge that there is a very professional, competent and committed anti-doping in place which can only support the 2020 Games."

Ty Votaw, vice president of the International Golf Federation: "We congratulate Tokyo. Japan has more golfers than any other country in the world outside the United States.

Scott Blackmun, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee: "We look forward to being in Tokyo."

Muhtar Kent, CEO of Coca-Cola was present for the bid decision. The Turkish-American was said to have been personally supportive of Istanbul. However a representative for Coca-Cola downplayed that and insisted on the TOP sponsor’s neutrality. "All three are great markets," they said. Kent also spent time with each of the delegations.

Coca-Cola had purchased the large, LED billboard next to Buenos Aires' central landmark, La Obelisco. The sign features the Coca-Cola Olympic logo and "Welcome to Buenos Aires" in English, Spanish, Turkish and of course, Japanese.

Diamil Faye, Tokyo 2020 consultant, said it won because of its "clear vision", even with "so much disturbing information" coming out in the final months of the bid.

Olympic historian David Wallechinsky: "Keeping in mind that there’s a limited number of voters and that this (presentation) isn’t for the public – it’s just for these IOC members -- I thought the best part of the Tokyo presentation was when they said, ‘By the way, Tokyo has more Michelin starred restaurants than any other city in the world.’ I thought, ‘That’s a good point.’"

Reported by Mark Bisson. Karen Rosen and Ed Hula III

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