It appears that The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are considering teaming up forย a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic games. Just weeks ago Tokyo loss out on hosting the 2016 games to Rio De Janeiro in a stiff contest that also included Madrid and Chicago.
Peace Games
Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue said at a news conference that they will establish a joint committee for a bid that will emphasize world peace. “The Olympics symbolize the abolition of nuclear arms and world peace, and we want to work to realize our plan to host the games,” Mr. Akiba said. Mr. Taude added: “It will be a new challenge for the atomic-bombed cities.”
Atomic Bombings
Hiroshima, the site of the world’s first atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945, is located in western Japan about 400 miles from Tokyo. The city was instantly flattened and an estimated 140,000 people were killed or died within months after the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the bomb in the waning days of World War II. Three days later, the U.S. dropped another atomic bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing about 80,000 people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II. A total of about 260,000 victims of the bombings are officially recognized by the government, including those that died of related injuries or sickness in the decades since. Nagasaki is 200 miles west of Hiroshima on the island of Kyushu.
Only One City can Host the Olympic Games
Gilbert Felli, executive director for the Olympic Games has cast doubt on a proposal by Hiroshima and Nagasaki to co-host the 2020 Olympics. He reminded everyone that the Olympic Charter clearly states only one city can host the Olympics. Who knows maybe the Olympic Charter can be changed in the new future as the International Olympic Committee will not select a host city for the 2020 Olympics until 2013.
Other Interested Cities
A number of cities have already expressed interest in vying for the 2020 Olympics, including Istanbul, Budapest and Delhi.
News and Information Sources
Hiroshima, Nagasaki to bid for 2020 Olympics
IOC says Hiroshima, Nagasaki plan not workable
[japan]
Awesome! they’ll have a really good chance. I think they only lost out this time because Beijing(similar corner of the world) was still very fresh in the mind, same could be said for the US losing out too I guess, they’re essentially the same as us in the UK and we’re hosting in 2012, Rio will offer something totally different and put on one hell of a show!
Good luck Japan for 2020!
The bombs at Hiroshima(Little Boy) and Nagasaki(Fatman), where the second and third Atomic detonations.
The First bomb”The Gadget”. was detonated on July 16, 1945.
You could say that “Little Boy” was the first Atomic Bomb deployed as a weapon.
Wow, that would be a great thing, because it would also remind the world to really start getting rid of nuclear weapons. [japan]