Politics blamed for Tokyo failure

TOKYO – Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara blamed his city’s failure to win the right to host the 2016 Games on behind-the-scenes deals, saying Japanese sports officials must become more adept in dealing with the inner workings of the International Olympic Committee.

“Tokyo’s presentation was far better than the others,” Ishihara said at a press conference Sunday. “But invisible dynamics were at play. It is a game that is very difficult to win.”

Rio de Janeiro beat Madrid to host the 2016 Olympics in the final round of voting by the IOC. Chicago was eliminated after the first round with Tokyo going out in the second round.

Ishihara said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made “daring promises” to African people and that French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to support Rio’s bid if Brazil bought French-made fighter jets.

“I don’t know how relevant these promises were but they seem to be in violation of IOC rules,” Ishihara said. “This is part of the discomfort I have with the bid process.”

The 77-year-old Ishihara said Rio’s win was the result of an internal struggle between former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who wanted Madrid to win, and current IOC president Jacques Rogge who wanted the games to go to a region that has never hosted them before.

“In the IOC, a lot of things are based on what goes on behind the scenes,” Ishihara said. “Samaranch wanted Madrid and Rogge wanted to go to a new venue so there were all sorts of issues at play.” (AP)