Dr Kono: IOC could not have missed our passion this time

By Gerard Meagher, Sportsbeat, in Copenhagen

 TOKYO 2016 chair and CEO Dr Ichiro Kono insists there was nothing lost in translation during his team's presentation in bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

 BODY LANGUAGE: Dr Ichiro Kono is adamant his team's passion came across in their presentation

Kono, who spoke in English along with the rest of the bid delegation, revealed the Tokyo 2016 team were encouraged to invigorate their presentation skills, seemingly unable to convey their passion in their body language after presenting to the IOC in Lausanne.

Tokyo's presentation focused on the ‘legacy for 100 years' that has been so prominent in their bid, emphasising the impact the Games would have on the younger generation.

And Kono remains confident his team's passion to secure the Games and create a lasting legacy was evident for all to see in Tokyo's presentation.

"Many people told us that we must show more passion during the presentation so we have been prepared for a long time," he said.

"Official training took place two days ago, then we had another rehearsal and then another dress rehearsal so it was a presentation based on team-work.

"We feel we have done Japan proud - we had more than half a million Japanese hearts with us - we clearly put across our passion to host the Games.

"It will be for youth and for legacy all across the world. We have already left a legacy for the next generation in the bid process itself.

"And to me, I could see it in their eyes - our passionate expressions and the response from the IOC members was very positive."

Meanwhile, President of Tokyo 2016 Shintaro Ishihara compared his team's bid to a yachting race and expressed his relief that ‘he and his crew members had avoided shipwreck and arrived in the mother port'.

And he also defended his comments on Wednesday that for environmental reasons, the 2016 Olympics could be the last.

"Let me explain - we are experiencing unusual weather because of the global warming and experts are saying we have to do something about it in the nest five or six years to save the earth," he said.

"This kind of carbon-negative Games would be the best presentation for the entire world and the preservation of the world."