Over fifty years ago, on May 27, 1959, The Japan Times reported that “A wave of rejoicing swept the nation last night as news was flashed from Munich that Tokyo had been awarded the 1964 Olympic Games. The fifth ring in the Olympic symbol had been completed. The Olympic Games had finally come to Asia. ”
Then prime minister, Nobusuke Kishi “led the nation in expressing great pleasure and elation over the 
International Olympic Committee’s selection of the Japanese capital as the site of the 18th Olympiad.” and went on to say that it was “a great opportunity for the Japanese people to demonstrate their love of sports and their attitude of respect for sportsmanship to the world.”
Former Japanese Olympians also eagerly hailed the decision and Yoshiyuki Tsuruta (pictured on the right), winner of the breaststroke at the Amsterdam and Los Angeles Olympics (in 1928 and 1932), regarded the selection of Tokyo as stemming from international recognition that Japan is now a leading sports nation.
I’m sure the elation of the nation will be no less should Tokyo be chosen as the site for the 2016 Olympic games in less than 100 days.
Image Credit: Flickr, Japan Blue & Wikimedia, Yoshiyuki Tsuruta 1928
Tags: Olympic history · Toky2016 · Tokyo Olympics · Yoshiyuki Tsuruta7 Comments
New Post, Tokyo Gets The Games! http://bit.ly/94TnG by @shanesakata
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Tokyo Gets The Games (in 1964) & the city was thrilled http://bit.ly/94TnG (via @Tokyo2016)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @ShaneSakata: Tokyo Gets The Games (in 1964) & the city was thrilled http://bit.ly/94TnG (via @Tokyo2016)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Hope to be part of this when it happen. It will be crazy.
Every Japanese person I’ve asked about this is either indifferent or actively does not want the Olympics to come here because of how troublesome it’ll be for them when going about their daily lives.
To the extent that there will be “elation”, it’ll probably only be “winning” in what can be seen as an international competition.
RT @shibuya246: RT @ShaneSakata: Tokyo Gets The Games (in 1964) & the city was thrilled http://bit.ly/94TnG (via @Tokyo2016)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @shibuya246:RT @ShaneSakata: Tokyo Gets The Games (in 1964) & the city was thrilled http://bit.ly/94TnG (via @Tokyo2016)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter