In one month from today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce which of the four candidate cities has been chosen to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
The 2016 Olympics will be in either Tokyo (Japan), Chicago (USA), Madrid (Spain), or Rio De Janeiro (Brazil).
2016 Olympic Candidate Cities logos
I don’t know the meaning of the other three logos, but the symbol on the Tokyo logo is a musubi knot…which is a symbol of happiness and blessings (or condolances, depending on the colors and arrangement).
Here is a Japanese envelope with a musubi to give a monetary gift to newlyweds at a wedding ceremony:
As it stands right now, the IOC announced that 72% of Japanese people support the 2016 Olympics being hosted in Tokyo…the lowest local support rate of the four cities (93% of Spanish people support Madrid’s bid).
Although having local support is an important factor in the IOC’s decision…it’s not the only factor.
(Tokyo can) offer the safest, securest, most risk-free and most dependable bid. This is especially critical considering today’s uncertain environment.
–Ichiro Kono, Tokyo Olympic bid leader.
Which of the four cities do you think should host the 2016 Summer Olympics? (Please vote in this poll, and also add additional comments, such as your reasons and which city you live in, in this post’s Comments section):
Tokyo Five 
See my post about Brazil’s winning bid…here:
https://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/congratulations-brazil/
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I’m watching the IOC’s vote live right now.
Chicago’s just been eliminated.
Now it’s down to three candidate cities (Tokyo, Rio or Madrid)!
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Tokyo just got eliminated… 😦
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The 2016 Olympics will hosted by either Madrid, Spain or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…the final decision won’t be announced for another 90 minutes from now.
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The decision was just announced.
The 2016 Summer Olympics will be hosted by…Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Congratulations!
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The IOC will announce their decision in less than 20 minutes from now (at 00:10 PM JST (Japan Standard Time), 2009 Oct 3).
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I voted for Tokyo too. I’m not sure why but I would love to visit if and when they decide-maybe that is why I voted for Tokyo, just so that if we could go then we could also visit you too. just dreaming. I don’t like the thought of Chicago, something bad might happen there. maybe Spain would be my second vote.
I was also going to ask about the mask on the upper right too. I am so surprized to read that it is representative of a female! I thought for sure it looked like an angry old man! but after reading more about what you wrote, I guess maybe I can see it. it looks pretty scarey to me.
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Did you vote for “Tokyo” to get the Olympics?
If Tokyo hosts them, you should come visit!
Actually, you should come to Japan before then! In 2016, my kids will be 20, 21 and 23!
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thanks for the info…..nice blog bro. plizz reply me too
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Thanks you.
BTW, what country do you live in?
Have you ever visited Japan?
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Im hoping its Japan so its easier to watch all the competitions ^_^ because there’s not much difference with the timezone !! you dont find football interesting? awwwwww thats a shame. Noticed the difference of your new banner, I like the mask ..I know what is but the name of it is on the tip of my tongue !
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It’s a “Hannya” on the right side of my banner at the top of the blog page.
I have one on my cell-phone strap.
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Ah yes Hannya, thats the name ..being an anime addict I remember seeing a character wearing that mask and his name was Hannya in Samurai X..nice one I actually like that mask alot
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Hannya are actually female.
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Really? Hmmm I wonder why the manga artist used that mask for a male character. Thanks for that fact, very interesting but why is it for a female only? Any site I can read on about that?
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>very interesting but why is it for a female only?
The Hannya is an angry female demon.
In Noh plays, a male actor will wear the mask and play the role of the demon.
>Any site I can read on about that?
I don’t know any sites off hand…but I’m sure there are some. If I find a good one, I’ll tell you.
Maybe it’s interesting to you…when Japanese people want to signify that their mother or wife is angry, they put their hands on their heads with the index fingers up like hannya horns.
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>Maybe it’s interesting to you…when Japanese people want to signify that their mother or wife is angry, they put their hands on their heads with the index fingers up like hannya horns.
– heheheheehe very cute but not really.
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It’s kinda like the expression in English:
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.
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Go to South America?!?!
Haven’t you seen a horror/slasher movie in the last 5 years? That place is crawling with killers!
Now Chicago…nothing bad has ever happened there…
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HAHAHA! 🙂
>Now Chicago…nothing bad has ever happened there…
How about Al Capone and his gang shooting the place up??
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There is definitely NO BIAS in the voting!
South Africa is having the Fifa World Cup next year. It wouldn’t matter to me which country held it, but of course, if Japan hosted it, it would be alot easier for me to watch. Time Zone differences.
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>There is definitely NO BIAS in the voting!
Sarcasm, right?
Actually, I thought to myself when I added the poll to this post that it won’t be a very accurate survey…since it’s on a Tokyo-themed blog! 😉
>Fifa World Cup…if Japan hosted it
I remember when Japan did host the Soccer World Cup.
It was in 2002, if I remember correctly. And it was actually co-hosted with Korea.
Many foreigners from Europe came to Tokyo to see the games. I tried to watch a couple games on TV since it was held in this city…but, sorry, I don’t find soccer (football?) interesting.
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Tokyo, Japan certainly. I’d like to see their opening ceremony. It’s something I’ve wanted to see for a while.
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>I’d like to see their opening ceremony.
If Tokyo hosts the Olympics, I hope it lives up to your expectations!
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The logo of rio is a mix of a Heart and the Sugar Loaf
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OK, thanks. I didn’t know that.
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Chicago’s going to get it. You just watch!
(I mean, come on…Chicago has lots of “connections” if you know what I mean.)
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America has hosted the Olympics eight times. More times than any other country!
The most recent was the 2002 Winter games in Utah and 1996 Summer games in Atlanta.
Japan has only hosted them three times:
1964 Summer games in Tokyo
1972 Winter games in Sapporo
and
1998 Winter games in Nagano (which I went to 🙂 )
(Spain hosted the Olympics in 1992 at Barcelona. But South America has never hosted them…so maybe it should go to Rio De Janeiro).
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I think the previous Tokyo Olympics in 1964 has to be one of the most successful. Successful in terms of rebuilding a city and giving good, solid infrastructure.
It should be pretty cost effective to hold the Olympics here again as they are think of using the venues that were constructed in the 60’s.
Actually sounds like a great argument for giving the Olympics to Rio!!… Hmmm…
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Yes, the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo were the first Olympic games to be held in Asia.
And they were quite successful.
And it’s true that they plan to use the same venues as much as possible.
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