2020 Japan Olympics

[kurogane]

"We looked into the content of this contract but this is a confidential matter," Tsunekazu Takeda said under questioning from lawmakers. "So, I understand that I am not allowed to unveil the content without gaining approval from the counterpart."

Sad state of affairs when you can't impart confidential information to your own government's parliamentary committee. You'd almost think they were corrupt to the core.

Indeed. One might even imagine that committe members would and could legally compel testimony if they so wanted. The real problem is that this passve acceptance by the committee could give an appearance of collusion, as though they would rather not hear any revealing testimony that might force their hand.

[Takechanpoo]

i fully agree to abolish tokyo oliympic. but they should also thoroughly inspect sochi and other ones. otherwise its hypocrisy and pretty unfair.
why is the world always so hard only on japan?

[matsuki]

i fully agree to abolish tokyo oliympic. but they should also thoroughly inspect sochi and other ones. otherwise its hypocrisy and pretty unfair.
why is the world always so hard only on japan?

Not likely Japan is the only country with bribe money sent but why inspect Olympic bids where the games are already over? If fairness is the goal, they need to make changes to the selection process that better guard against bribes...

[kurogane]

Yes, poor Japan. People expect it to behave better than a dictatorial kleptocracy. RACisM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Taro Toporific]

Here’s the new Olympic logo, squeeeee!

Olympic-logo.jpg

via

[wagyl]

Yes, poor Japan. People expect it to behave better than a dictatorial kleptocracy. RACisM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Late to this party, but I presume you were referring to this dictatorial kleptocracy.

Not likely Japan is the only country with bribe money sent but why inspect Olympic bids where the games are already over? If fairness is the goal, they need to make changes to the selection process that better guard against bribes...

So you are saying that if they can keep a lid on their conspiracy long enough, they deserve to get away with it. Well done fellas!

[Samurai_Jerk]

Yes, poor Japan. People expect it to behave better than a dictatorial kleptocracy. RACisM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Late to this party, but I presume you were referring to this dictatorial kleptocracy.

AKA the Mormon Mafia.

[matsuki]

Yes, poor Japan. People expect it to behave better than a dictatorial kleptocracy. RACisM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Late to this party, but I presume you were referring to this dictatorial kleptocracy.

Not likely Japan is the only country with bribe money sent but why inspect Olympic bids where the games are already over? If fairness is the goal, they need to make changes to the selection process that better guard against bribes...

So you are saying that if they can keep a lid on their conspiracy long enough, they deserve to get away with it. Well done fellas!

Of course not...I meant it in regards to the games themselves where they can actually be cancelled, postponed, or sent elsewhere. Olympics that are already over can't be cancelled but the bribery and other assery can and should be handled.

[BigInJapan]

August 22, 2016 6:00 pm JST
Tokyo Olympic medals to be made from e-waste - NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW

TOKYO -- Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are hoping to source the gold, silver and bronze needed to make medals for the games by tapping the country's "urban mine" -- made up of millions of discarded smartphones and other small consumer electronics.

Such electronic waste contains enough precious metals to produce all the medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Japan's capital four years from now, according to a group of Olympic organizers, government officials and company executives that discussed the proposal in June.

For the 2012 London Olympics, 9.6kg of gold, 1,210kg of silver and 700kg of copper -- the primary component of bronze -- were used to produce medals. In comparison, the amount of precious metals recovered from discarded small consumer electronics in Japan in 2014 included 143kg of gold, 1,566kg of silver and 1,112 tons of copper.

20160822TurningElectronic_large_580[1].png

While Japan is poor in natural resources, its "mine" of gold and silver contained in small consumer electronics is equivalent to 16% and 22% of the world's total reserves, respectively -- surpassing the reserves of any natural resources-abundant nation.

Olympic host cities usually procure metal for medals largely by asking mining companies to donate them.

Continued on NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW

[legion]

I guess the cost of extracting the material will exceed the cost of buying it on the open market, but I applaud the intent, In the long run we may see some benefit in improvements in recycling technology.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Expert panel warns Tokyo Olympics cost could top $30 billion

An expert panel commissioned by Japan’s capital city has warned that the total cost for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics could exceed 3 trillion yen ($30 billion) unless drastic cost-cutting measures are taken.

The panel on Thursday said the ballooning costs reflect an absence of leadership and a lack of governance and awareness of cost control.

The Olympic investigation panel, led by Shinichi Ueyama, a Keio University public policy professor, was launched by newly elected Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike as part of broader reforms after she raised concerns about ever-growing unofficial cost estimates and the potential burden on the city and its taxpayers.

The report reviewed three out of seven permanent venues that Tokyo is planning to build, and proposed using existing locations rather than new facilities that could end up being white elephants.

[Russell]

Expert panel warns Tokyo Olympics cost could top $30 billion

An expert panel commissioned by Japan’s capital city has warned that the total cost for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics could exceed 3 trillion yen ($30 billion) unless drastic cost-cutting measures are taken.

The panel on Thursday said the ballooning costs reflect an absence of leadership and a lack of governance and awareness of cost control.

The Olympic investigation panel, led by Shinichi Ueyama, a Keio University public policy professor, was launched by newly elected Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike as part of broader reforms after she raised concerns about ever-growing unofficial cost estimates and the potential burden on the city and its taxpayers.

The report reviewed three out of seven permanent venues that Tokyo is planning to build, and proposed using existing locations rather than new facilities that could end up being white elephants.

Never mind, just let's arrest a FG for the Tokyo Olympic logo trademark infringement.

That took place before the current trademark was selected.

[legion]

Meanwhile, Dentsu-sama, who own the broadcast rights to the 2020 Olympics, as well as the marketing.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201609240027.html

Advertising giant Dentsu Inc. has admitted to overbilling clients and, in some cases, deliberately cheating them after an in-house investigation showed the practices continued for nearly four years at least.

The fraudulent activity was with regard to the way the company placed online business ads on behalf of clients.

Tokyo-based Dentsu has so far identified 633 cases of overcharging and cheating that totaled around 230 million yen ($2.3 million) and involved 111 advertisers, the company said Sept. 23.

The scandal came to light as a result of a complaint from Toyota Motor Corp. in July.

They are fucking taking the fucking piss this time

Will this lead to review to the sweetheart deals the government gives them on just about all public media spend? Will it fuck.

[kurogane]

Never mind, just let's arrest a FG for the Tokyo Olympic logo trademark infringement.

That took place before the current trademark was selected.

The criminalisation of greedy stupidity is not always a bad thing.

[matsuki]

Never mind, just let's arrest a FG for the Tokyo Olympic logo trademark infringement.

That took place before the current trademark was selected.

The criminalisation of greedy stupidity is not always a bad thing.

Except where it's a civil, not criminal matter?

[yanpa]

Never mind, just let's arrest a FG for the Tokyo Olympic logo trademark infringement.

That took place before the current trademark was selected.

The criminalisation of greedy stupidity is not always a bad thing.

Except where it's a civil, not criminal matter?

Do we know that for sure? Disclaimer: I have no idea about the legal aspects of this in Japan, qualified input welcome.

[wagyl]

Based on the use of the word "arrest" and the involvement of the police, this is not a civil matter.

[Wage Slave]

Perhaps the police know so little and are so keen to persecute FGs that they have gone completely ultra vires and waded into a civil matter. Or there again, maybe not.

[Russell]

Perhaps the police know so little and are so keen to persecute FGs that they have gone completely ultra vires and waded into a civil matter. Or there again, maybe not.

This case is a bit interesting, because the FG was arrested for violating the copyright of the previous Olympic logo, which was plagiarized by a Japanese designer from a foreign source.

Wondering what happened to that Japanese designer. Was he arrested?

[Wage Slave]

Oh! I didn't realise it was the previous logo. And yes, was the designer prosecuted? Perhaps though, plagarisation is a little more arguable compared to straightforward reproduction and passing off.

[wagyl]

Perhaps the police know so little and are so keen to persecute FGs that they have gone completely ultra vires and waded into a civil matter. Or there again, maybe not.

This case is a bit interesting, because the FG was arrested for violating the copyright of the previous Olympic logo, which was plagiarized by a Japanese designer from a foreign source.

Wondering what happened to that Japanese designer. Was he arrested?

This isn't the T logo which very closely resembled a Belgian theatre, this is the ring-of-hibiscus logo which was used during the candidate city campaign period. While I would agree that the ring-of-hibiscus style logo was derivative of someone's last visit to Hawaii, I don't know if there were claims that that one was plagiarised.

The Theatre de Liege withdrew their plagiarism suit after the logo was abandoned, due to lack of infringing use. The designer of the Liege logo continued on his own for a while, but the cost of justice was too high (and although he does not admit as much, if the logo isn't actually used then you can not claim unlicensed use).

[matsuki]

Based on the use of the word "arrest" and the involvement of the police, this is not a civil matter.

Obviously not but if trademark infringement is an arrestable, criminal matter, there is some asshole in the great inaka that I can apparently get arrested... (I'm not talking about you Wags)

20160928KW___0030300010.PH.-.-.N.CI0004[1].jpg

http://kyodonews.net/news/2016/09/28/81727

[wagyl]

Just get your company to have a 総合対策本部生活経済課 within 警視庁.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Based on the use of the word "arrest" and the involvement of the police, this is not a civil matter.

It should be though.

[Russell]

Based on the use of the word "arrest" and the involvement of the police, this is not a civil matter.

It should be though.

Yes, that is the point: it should be, and it usually is.

[kurogane]

That's a good point about the civil vs criminal thing. I hadn't thought of that.
I do like how he penny anted himself into a foreign jail, though. ESL Lifers often need a kick in the bubble.

[wagyl]

Based on the use of the word "arrest" and the involvement of the police, this is not a civil matter.

It should be though.

The International Olympic Committee is notorious for forcing stronger protections over its intellectual property, including demanding special legislation and rights. The fact that they have got a specialist, dedicated unit in the Metropolitan Police is just one example.

[kurogane]

True. Ask my HS friend's father about how much fun he had when they went after him over his Olympic Pizza sign, which had been there since before I could drive and certainly before any Eastern transplants (Westarians, also Oncouverites) had thought about foisting that follies on their new hometown.

In 2004, the Canadian Olympic Committee launched a high-profile battle to force the Olympia Pizza and Pasta Restaurant in Vancouver to remove signs that featured the Olympic rings and torch. The restaurant owner vowed to defy the Olympic committee’s demand, and the signage remains in place today.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... e16711509/

Crazy as an old Greek hatter he is, but they were wrong

[Coligny]

ehmmm I remember posts here few years ago announcing that copyright infringement became a criminal offence in the land of the planet of the apes (it was linked to the winny sharing software saga too I think)

[matsuki]

I think the difference there is copyright infringement vs this trademark infringement...but I never noticed any (TM) marks or trademark claims on any of the Tokyo Olympic Logos or submissions, including this "candidate city" logo in question:



(Which, is usually required to recover damages and such for these cases...in other countries at least)