Kampei Hazama named 'Olympic invitation ambassador'
TOKYO —
Comedian Kampei Hazama, 59, was on Wednesday named “Tokyo Olympic Bidding Ambassador” by the Tokyo 2016 Bidding Committee during a ceremony at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku.
Hazama, who was once a long-distance marathon runner, recently announced his intention to spend one year sailing around the world. He will visit Copenhagen where the International Olympic Committee will decide the 2016 Olympic host city next October. Hamazama will leave Osaka on Dec 17.
Vice Tokyo Gov Kenji Tanigawa said, “I hope that Mr Hazama will realize his dream and our dream that Tokyo will be selected for the 2016 Olympics.” Hazama said, “It’s big pressure on me as an ambassador, but I will do my best on my journey.”
The Tokyo 2016 Bidding Committee has so far named ex-Olympic marathon medalist Yuko Arimori, tennis player Kimiko Date-Krumm, alpinist Ken Noguchi, comedian Kinichi Hagimoto, ex-baseball player Atsuya Furuta, ex-baseball director Senichi Hoshino, TV personality Mino Monta and judoka Yasuhiro Yamashita as Olympic ambassadors.
Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara was supposed to attend Wednesday’s ceremony but canceled his schedule due to an unspecified illness.
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soldave
"Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara was supposed to attend Wednesday’s ceremony but canceled his schedule due to an unspecified illness." Nothing trivial, I hope! Maybe he found out there would be some of those savage foreigners at the ceremony.
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thepro
Yep, I'm sure some childish gags will get the Olympic Committee on board for Tokyo.
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judochick
i LOVE yamashita yasuhiro!!! he's a great judoka!!!
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Ninjazilla
Haha its going to Chicago, sorry Shintaro.
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Richard_the_First
Do they honestly think an Asian city will get it in 2016? It boggles the mind actually, and is a simple waste of tax revenue. A US city will hosts it as it's that time again.
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soldave
What the hell is the "comedian" wearing on his head?
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BlackFlag
get well soon dear
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ptolemy
Yeah, the pressure Shintaro himself will have your ba**s if you fail, good luck Mr. Ambassador. Hedge your bets and begin soprano lessons.
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