Tokyo bid to show tsunami recovery

Tokyo bid to show tsunami recovery

Published Jul. 26, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

The leader of Tokyo's 2020 Olympics bid says it plans to stage events in northeastern Japan to show its recovery from an earthquake and tsunami last year.

Bid president Tsunekazu Takeda says the region would host the torch relay and soccer matches if Tokyo wins the three-city contest.

Takeda tells The Associated Press that ''we would like to show the actual recovery of this area for people of all the world who gave us big support.''

He sends ''thanks to all of those people.''

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Tokyo is promoting the 2020 bid as a symbol of Japan's response to the March 2011 natural disaster.

Takeda spoke after being elected an International Olympic Committee member.

IOC members will select Tokyo, Istanbul or Madrid as 2020 host in September 2013.

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