Tokyo, 7 July 2008 – TOKYO 2016 and the people of Japan today welcomed world leaders to the start of the G8 Summit in Toyako, Hokkaido, in the north of Japan. The Summit - chaired by Prime Minister Fukuda, who will also be present at the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremony - will discuss a broad range of pressing environmental, economic and social issues facing the global community. TOKYO 2016 praised the Summit as an excellent opportunity for Japan to prove to the world its expertise at staging high-profile international events that require the highest levels of organisation and security.
Tokyo's Bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the very heart of Japan’s vibrant capital city will use lessons from hosting the G8 Summit and other major events as invaluable assets when developing its Candidature File.
The city of Tokyo and the Japanese security services already have wide ranging experience of hosting major sporting events, such as BWF Yonex Open Japan and FIFA Club World Cup Japan. Japan's expertise in this area saw TOKYO 2016 receive high marks for 'Safety and Security' from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its recent 2016 Applicant City report.
Dr Ichiro Kono, Chairman and CEO of Tokyo 2016, said:
“Hosting the G8 Summit is an honour for Japan and testament to our country's credentials at staging major international events. We are an experienced host of such events, but now we are focused on bringing the world's greatest event to the heart of our vibrant capital city in 2016. The Olympic and Paralympic Games requires the fullest range of hosting abilities, including first rate organisation, clean and efficient transport, top-standard accommodation and a strong track-record in security. We will continue to build expertise from successfully welcoming the world to Tokyo and Japan, as we build the best possible Candidature File, attuned to the unique needs of the Olympic Family."
On top of a strong reputation in event organisation, Tokyo also has strong infrastructure and first-rate accommodation. The city is renowned for its ultra-efficient transport system, including its rail network, which carries approximately 23 million passengers every day. This infrastructure will allow the Olympic family to travel to the Games using world-class and clean public transport.
One of TOKYO 2016's greatest strengths is its proposal to deliver the most compact urban Games in history with 95% of the venues sitting within an eight km area. In 2016 the city will be transformed into Olympic Park and the Games will be brought into the heart of city life - allowing spectators the chance to sample Tokyo's unique culture and access some of the world's finest restaurants, hotels and shops. These include 150 restaurants which were awarded 191 stars in the 2008 Michelin Guide, the most of any city across the globe.
With over 109,000 hotel rooms, Tokyo’s accommodation offer exceeds IOC benchmarks, ensuring first-rate options for all the Olympic Family, visitors, spectators and the world’s media.
The G8 Summit will run from 7 to 9 July in Toyako. This is the fifth time Japan has held the G8 (formerly G7) Presidency, demonstrating Japan’s strength at hosting large-scale, international events.
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