2020 Japan Olympics

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

How about Nagano??

Winter Olympics aren't real Olympics....

The Olympics won't be the Olympics till they bring back naked men wrestling to the death.

I'm for that. And throwing women off cliffs if they're caught watching.

[Mike Oxlong]

Who was the gymnast on tv yesterday promoting the Tokyo bid in an Engrish speech?

Oh, right. Google is my friend...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Who was the gymnast on tv yesterday promoting the Tokyo bid in an Engrish speech?

Oh, right. Google is my friend...

Tokyo wins!

[Mike Oxlong]

Who was the gymnast on tv yesterday promoting the Tokyo bid in an Engrish speech?

Oh, right. Google is my friend...

Tokyo wins!

We all do SDH, we all do.

[matsuki]

Who was the gymnast on tv yesterday promoting the Tokyo bid in an Engrish speech?

Oh, right. Google is my friend...

Tokyo wins!

We all do SDH, we all do.

note: need to date gymnast

[Russell]

The Cabinet decided this morning to urge the Olympic Organizing Committee to return the [...] Tokyo Games to the International Olympic Committee.

The Welfare Ministry decided there should be no Tokyo Olympic Games [...]. That decision was formally submitted to the Cabinet meeting today.

While the Olympic Games have been awarded to the city of Tokyo and not to Japan as a nation, the O.O.C. is expected to comply with the request.

Not only financial difficulties but also the psychological effects that the Games would have on the people — of whom a higher grade of concentration is now required on the fighting in China — were given by Welfare Minister Koichi Kido as reasons for his Ministry’s decision.

“If Tokyo cancels the Olympics, it will cause considerable repercussions abroad,” he admitted. “But I think it is advisable to decide our national attitude over the Games now. At this time when the nation is required to endure material hardships, we may incur disdain from abroad if we are excited over the Olympics. Some people may argue that returning the Games may discourage physical culture, but I believe such an eventuality is forestalled by holding Meiji Festival sports meets on a larger scale or by sponsoring other national sporting events.”

Matsuzo Nagai, Secretary-General of the O.O.C. reported the Welfare Ministry’s decision to Mayor Itta Kobashi of Tokyo Friday afternoon. Still reluctant to abandon the Games, the mayor the same day visited several Cabinet members. “I have done all I could for retaining the Olympics and am awaiting the Cabinet’s decision,” he said. “Even if the Games are cancelled, I wish to complete Komazawa Stadium for the sake of the health of Tokyo citizens after peace is restored in China.”

Those who will be deprived of work as a result of returning the Games include three German Olympic technical advisers, who have been in Tokyo nearly one year on a three-year contract.

Source

[Taro Toporific]

The Cabinet decided this morning to urge the Olympic Organizing Committee to return the [...] Tokyo Games to the International Olympic Committee.
Source

Grrreat!
This showed up in my my RSS reader this morning along with the timely story, "Tales of woe abound among Tokyo jobless" and I got all hyped to post it too.

Google News.jpg

[Russell]

Tokyo Governor blames media for loosing bid (even though voting didn't start yet)

Tokyo Gov Naoki Inose blasted the media coverage of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant on Friday and said that people should not believe in scare stories but on basis and facts.

The 66-year-old was appearing at Tokyo’s final press conference on the eve of the vote as to who of they, Istanbul or Madrid hosts the 2020 Olympic Games.

He added that the Japanese government had taken control of the crisis.

The crisis surrounding the plant - which suffered the damage when an earthquake and tsunami hit north eastern Japan in March 2011 killing over 18,000 people - has dogged the bid’s every press conference this week.

Beleaguered plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has revealed highly toxic water may have made its way into the Pacific Ocean. The utility also says up to 300 tons of mildly radioactive groundwater is making its way into the sea every day.

Inose, whose wife died of cancer in July with Saturday having extra significance for him as it marks 49 days since her death which is a symbolic anniversary in the Buddhist religion for remembering the dead, said he believed everything was now being done that needed to be done.

“What happened in Fukushima in terms of the tsunami and the earthquake was an event that only takes place once every 1000 years, the last time being in 869,” he said in answer to a question as to whether it was fair IOC members had for the first time this week begun voicing their reluctance to vote for them because of the problem.

[...]

“So much rumor has been conveyed by the media. When it was discussed by the cabinet on Sept 3 on what to do the paper was published in both Japanese and English.

“First of all you should read the statement and then ask questions. Fact and basis should be reported. We will provide all the data and that will be fair.”

Inose, who said all food was checked for contamination when it was brought in from outside Tokyo and despite the levels being the same as you would find in New York because of the scare stories it was left unsold, said the government could not have taken action any earlier.

“The contaminated water was discovered very recently and the government took urgent action,” he said.

More

Urgent, in the sense of "only two years late"...

[Yokohammer]

Inose isn't a very good politician. He just blurts out whatever comes to mind without considering how his comments may be perceived, particularly by people outside Japan. He seems to expect the same unquestioning "yes, Mr. Governor" response he gets from his entourage in Tokyo, regardless of who he's talking to. Not enough experience, not enough sensitivity, and certainly not enough forethought.

Personally, I hope Tokyo gets the Olympics. But Inose doesn't seem to understand what's necessary to make that happen. He gets asked "but what about Fukushima?," and responds "but Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima!" Most people are going to see that as insensitivity to the issue, or perhaps a lack of understanding of the real issue, as well as a betrayal of Fukushima.

I hope Abe does a better job.
(Hint: I ain't holdin' my breath).

[Russell]

I was just reading an article in the NYT about the vote, and there was this reader's comment giving a strong pro-Tokyo feeling (in reply to a strong anti-Tokyo comment):

I can appreciate Hamamama's bitterness and sense of despair for [Fukushima's] victims. The implied question is whether the Olympic construction would misdirect resources better needed in the disaster zone. That's a fair query -- and a common one imposed on Olympic host cities that typically promise to use the games to help with nation and community-building. A fair answer cannot be supposed with a simple dismissal. A fairer response would be that some host cities have done more than others. Conversely, a city's failure to win the games does not mean that its resources suddenly will stream generously to needy people or regions.

It's plausible that leaders in Tokyo and throughout Japan will use the world attention to focus more energy on restoring the area and the victims' spirits. Bitterness, even when deserved, won't help the kids dreaming of playing fields [in Fukushima prefecture to do sports]. World attention can prompt accountability and might provide inertia to accelerate restoration. As mentioned earlier, sport can serve as a worthy means to an end. This is Tokyo's best reason to become host.

Hammer, I think this is probably the reason why you hope the Olympics go to Tokyo?

[Yokohammer]

I was just reading an article in the NYT about the vote, and there was this reader's comment giving a strong pro-Tokyo feeling (in reply to a strong anti-Tokyo comment):

I can appreciate Hamamama's bitterness and sense of despair for [Fukushima's] victims. The implied question is whether the Olympic construction would misdirect resources better needed in the disaster zone. That's a fair query -- and a common one imposed on Olympic host cities that typically promise to use the games to help with nation and community-building. A fair answer cannot be supposed with a simple dismissal. A fairer response would be that some host cities have done more than others. Conversely, a city's failure to win the games does not mean that its resources suddenly will stream generously to needy people or regions.

It's plausible that leaders in Tokyo and throughout Japan will use the world attention to focus more energy on restoring the area and the victims' spirits. Bitterness, even when deserved, won't help the kids dreaming of playing fields [in Fukushima prefecture to do sports]. World attention can prompt accountability and might provide inertia to accelerate restoration. As mentioned earlier, sport can serve as a worthy means to an end. This is Tokyo's best reason to become host.

Hammer, I think this is probably the reason why you hope the Olympics go to Tokyo?

Sort of, in a sorta kinda sort of way ...

Basically, any positive economic stimulus should be good for Japan. Money coming in, and jobs. In addition to that, it provides a focus for a while, and even though that focus might involve some ugly nationalism (it will), it'll create a sense of togetherness that might help to get the whole country working together on things other than just the olympics. That's a mighty big "might," but every little helps. And finally, in agreement with the quote above, it'll focus world attention on Japan, which could help move things along a bit too.

And that last bit is where Inose is screwing things up. He clearly wants the world to focus only on the olympics and leave Fukushima to the Japanese government, and is being so obvious and callous about it that it's almost embarrassing. He's not a good enough magician to successfully use that kind of misdirection. If he and the rest of the goon squad would open up to the world rather than trying to sweep the most difficult issues under the rug when the rug is obviously bulging and steaming with unavoidable issues, he might get somewhere.

So what I really, really hope, is that the people who will be making the final decision will see through Inose's bullshit (and anyone else who tries to obfuscate the real issues) and see ways that the Olympics could benefit Japan ... every aspect of Japan, including the Fukushima fiasco ... and make their decision based on that.

If Japan gets the olympics it'll be in spite of Inose, but of course he won't see it that way.

[eddie]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-0 ... anbul.html

kind of surprised istanbul didn't get it. but, i'm sure japan will do a good job. not sure it's what japan needs to be focusing on at the moment, but...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I'm delighted for Japan, with something perceived as good news finally coming in after the pounding the cuntry has copped in recent times. I'm sure they'll do a brilliant job of hosting the Olympics.

(Edit: Despite the above, I couldn't resist posting this picture, which I thought was quite accurate. Nonetheless, there's nothing like the Olympics to whitewash less attractive aspects of society. Just ask Japan's old German allies <incidentally, at around the same time Tokyo was first awarded the Olympics>)

[Yokohammer]

This is good news.

Another effect I'm hoping for is that Japan feels more accepted by the international community and makes an attempt to reciprocate and work in harmony rather than closing down citing "uniqueness" as the reason, which has more or less been the recent trend. If things go as they should this could work out really well for everyone.

Fingers crossed, and very pleased for now.

[Coligny]

This is good news.

Another effect I'm hoping for is that Japan feels more accepted by the international community and makes an attempt to reciprocate and work in harmony rather than closing down citing "uniqueness" as the reason, which has more or less been the recent trend. If things go as they should this could work out really well for everyone.

Fingers crossed, and very pleased for now.

Tsss... They will read this as racial superiority and feel it's their duty to patronize the world.

Last universal expo did jack shit. Hell, it could have been 'Nagoya expo'... There was nothing universal init.
The amount of bullshit in the car from me julie was vomit inducing. Sne was behaving like if theywon the war. Not like a country who managed to grease the most efficiently downrotten official comittee workers. Wanted to tell her that even if you win the paralympics you are still a retard. But with the thematic closeness of the metaphore should would just have repeated " but it's the normal olympics" like a broken record...

When reaching the topic of the winter Olympic despite stating 3 times that the last time it happened in France it was in 1992 (*) she, 3 times, repeated "no, for the winter it's the germans who want them" i think i communicated with more evolved lifeforms still steaming just out from my cat bunghole....

(*) Renault did special edition lineups in "Albertville" white. With one of the last runs of the Alpine 610. Total two model produced only, one with white headlights one with yellow headlights. Their collector resell value is around 2 and a half unicorn...

[Russell]

Though it is a bad idea to hold the Olympics in Japan for the coming decades with all the problems they have (huge deficit, Fukushima, recovery efforts for Tohoku, etc), I hope that it will force the government to take at least one of the problems (Fukushima) seriously.

I don't cross my fingers with Japan feeling more accepted by the world because of the Olympics; I suspect they will rather feel more adulated...

[canman]

I was just reading some if the comments posted on the Huffington Post, and I can see that Tokyo doesn't seem to be a popular choice. The comments are running 9-1 about worries about radiation. Most of them are really stupid, but you get a sense for how these people feel and the mess that TEPCO has caused. On the other hand the Japan Today comments are almost all positive, much to my surprise! All I can say is that I hope this will have a positive effect on Japan, and in some way all people will benefit!

[Russell]

I was just reading some if the comments posted on the Huffington Post, and I can see that Tokyo doesn't seem to be a popular choice. The comments are running 9-1 about worries about radiation. Most of them are really stupid, but you get a sense for how these people feel and the mess that TEPCO has caused.

The Huffington Post is not what it used to be. Looks like it has been taken over by the right-wing nutters, if I read the comments. It used to be a place with some liberal-progressive bias, but that is definitely over now.

On the other hand the Japan Today comments are almost all positive, much to my surprise! All I can say is that I hope this will have a positive effect on Japan, and in some way all people will benefit!

Let's keep it at that. I am not enthusiastic yet, but I do agree that we should hope for the best.

[Yokohammer]

Though it is a bad idea to hold the Olympics in Japan for the coming decades with all the problems they have (huge deficit, Fukushima, recovery efforts for Tohoku, etc), I hope that it will force the government to take at least one of the problems (Fukushima) seriously.

I don't cross my fingers with Japan feeling more accepted by the world because of the Olympics; I suspect they will rather feel more adulated...

Why is it a bad idea?

It costs money to fix things.
The projected cost of holding the olympics is supposedly about 1.3 trillion yen.
The projected economic effect is something like 3 trillion yen.

I see a net profit there, and much of it in the public sector.

Without the olympics Japan would be facing long-term gloom and doom, which they might try and break out of by doing something drastic that the rest of the world wouldn't see as a good idea (I'm not even going to try and imagine what). With the olympics they have a break from the despair and a pressing reason to work with the international community rather than against it.

At the moment I can't see anything but good coming out of this.

[Coligny]

Without the olympics Japan would be facing long-term gloom and doom, which they might try and break out of by doing something drastic that the rest of the world wouldn't see as a good idea (I'm not even going to try and imagine what). With the olympics they have a break from the despair and a pressing reason to work with the international community rather than against it.

Ehm...

Bread and circus anyone ?

[matsuki]

....and with this comes the tax increase. But but but because olympics!

[legion]

but the most important thing is we get more mascots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IparryU]

but the most important thing is we get more mascots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God NO... please for the sake of mankind no!

Sent from my SC-03E using Tapatalk 2

[yanpa]

I have instructed my broker to purchase shares in concrete-related industries and brown envelope manufacturers as soon as the markets open tomorrow.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I desperately want to believe Hammer, though I fundamentally opposed these cunts getting the Olympics and think it was fucken obscene they continued the bid after Fuckushima. Still, what's done is done and the best should be made of it. My fear, and it borders on paranoia, is that Tokyo will be hit with a major disaster. I think we all know what happened the last time Japan had to give up hosting an Olympic Games.

Despite my optimism, almost the very first words Ishiheadhara said this morning upon learning that Tokyo would host the 2020 Olympics was "that will stick it up the Koreans and Chinese for giving us trouble," which suggests Japan is really keen on working with other cuntries.

[Taro Toporific]

WE WON! Wo0T!
THE TOKYO TWAT(c) IS A REALITY!

Twat-Games.jpg

Joke/parody thanks to Olympic.org

[Coligny]

WE WON! Wo0T!
THE TOKYO TWAT(c) IS A REALITY!

Twat-Games.jpg

Joke/parody thanks to Olympic.org

Tsuyu will never be the same...

[Taro Toporific]

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CLOSING CEREMONIES OF THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS....
1.)

Neo-Tokyo-Olympics.png

パトリック・マシアス (@Patrick_Macias)

2.)

big-Closing-Ceremonies-sugg.png

パトリック・マシアス (@Patrick_Macias)

[Taro Toporific]

WELCOME TO TOKYO, the Olympic City...

(via @tatangarani) "A racist demonstration marches through Tokyo's Shin-Okubo district today...The marchers are snarling and shouting, 'Get out!' at the local residents of foreign nationality."

Auslander-raus.jpg

http://twitpic.com/dcgqzt 新大久保で、差別デモが目の前を通っていく。ニヤニヤ笑いながら、外国籍の人たちに「出て行け!」と叫ぶ人たち。TOKYOがオリ...

[Mike Oxlong]

We have all the prosperity that the Nagano Olympics brought, and more, to look forward to...