Tokyo 2016 invites Japan’s crown prince to Copenhagen for Oct. 2 vote on Olympic site

Tokyo 2016 invites crown prince to IOC vote

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Officials of Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Olympics have invited Japan’s crown prince to travel to Copenhagen for the IOC vote on Oct. 2.

Tokyo Governor and bid committee president Shintaro Ishihara said Thursday that he has asked Prime Minister Tara Aso to invite Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako to represent the bid at the International Olympic Committee session.

Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, is competing against Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

“It is too difficult to ask the emperor (Akihito) to come because of his age and health, but our next ace is to ask his eldest son, the crown prince, and the crown princess,” Ishihara said. “I have asked the prime minister to make this official request.”

The IOC says heads of state and government and other dignitaries are welcome to attend the session, where the cities will make final presentations and IOC members will vote by secret ballot.

Chicago bid officials hope that President Barack Obama will go to Copenhagen. Spain’s King Juan Carlos has already announced that he will attend, and Brazilian President Luis Ignazio da Silva has indicated he will be there.

As British Prime Minister, Tony Blair was instrumental in London getting the 2012 Olympics when he lobbied IOC members in Singapore in 2005. As Russian President, Vladimir Putin helped Sochi get the 2014 Winter Games when he went to the IOC session in Guatemala in 2007.

All four 2016 bid cities made technical presentations to IOC members in Lausanne on Wednesday, a key test run for Copenhagen.

“This race is the most difficult I have ever been in,” Ishihara said. “I’m a sailor and have competed in many competitions around the world. But it is very difficult to read how the wind is blowing and the currents are flowing in this race.”