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Sapporo to bid for 2026 Winter Olympics

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Oh please, give me a break. Tokyo was bad enough, how about trying to allocate money to the displaced in Tohoku first?

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Money pit...

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The mayor of Sapporo has announced his city’s intention to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Are they for real? Sapporo 1972, Nagano 1998 and Tokyo will host the 2020 summer Olympics. Does the Sapporo mayor really think Japan will get to hold another Olympics 6 years later?

Please disclose in full how much TAX PAYER MONEY Sapporo will allocate for this failed venture! Did you even run this by the public in the first place? What is it with nearly every city in Japan trying to host something? If you were to add up all the failed bids to host Soccer World Cups, Rugby World Cups, Olympic winter and summer games you could send every child in Japan through K-12 for free.

Wake up people and add an extra cup of beans to your coffee because these clowns you elect are just feeding you sugar pills for your ills.

5 ( +9 / -5 )

The total cost of the tournament is 404.5 billion yen of which the city (Sapporo) pays 71.5 billion yen.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The announcement comes at a time when public opinion in some European cities has turned against bidding for the Olympics in light of the $51 billion price tag associated with the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

I think Sapporo can reduce the price tag substantially in comparison with the Sochi games, given that the area already has considerable infrastructure in place (hotels, transportation, etc), and the recent backlash against unreasonable Olympic Committee demands of host cities is causing the OC to rethink its approach.

At a somewhat lower price tag, I think hosting the winter Olympics in Sapporo makes sense.

I go skiing in that area somewhat regularly, and nearly every year I notice that it attracts and increasing number of winter tourists. It is an ideal winter destination, still with lots of untapped potential. Given that, the Olympics would be a good opportunity for the area to upgrade some of its aging lifts and other facilities, while those upgrades along with the spotlight of the Olympics would help attract even more tourists in the years to come.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

NO!!!

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@dbsaiyaNOV. 28, 2014 - 07:32AM JST Oh please, give me a break. Tokyo was bad enough, how about trying to allocate money to the displaced in Tohoku first?

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Tohoku area prefectures already received all compensation moneys from Japanese Govt. The money is in bqnk. Why they are not rebuilding? The places explained that they don;t have construction workers. A few months ago. jT reported.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The total cost of the tournament is 404.5 billion yen of which the city (Sapporo) pays 71.5 billion yen.

Who pay the rest ? I, a Tokyoite, don't want to pay any more for such a brief moment of fireworks.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

In Japan and USA, cities that invited Olympic earns commercial ads by Japan Inc companies such as Nintendo, Toyota, Toshiba and many more. Not in Turkey or Europe. That is why Japan and USA hve more bidders. Not meager govt tax money they are interested.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Waste more money.....these politicians need to be taken behind the barn and flogged.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Japan is like their Youngsters, instead of investing their small savings on more necessary things that they will need for future,they spend it vices, luxurious/signatured clothing, expensive vehicles that they cannot afford that will leave them paying very big debts.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Well, if they go for it and get it maybe Japan will keep it's borders open past 2020. Let's communicate with foreigners ... ugh. In all honesty, it's a waste of money to have such an event. Even after the next Olympic Winter games in Korea, they have only 2 bidders (Beijing and some place in Kazahkstan) ... money pits indeed. Just keep it in the European Alps everytime. It would be easier for all.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

2018 in Korea? 2020 in Tokyo? China may be the only willing putz to pay up for 2026 Winter Olympics... and Sapporo wants 2022? Four straight Olympics in East Asia? ....Yeeaahhh, the IOC will give the Olympics to whatever sucker pays up, but I can't see it happening.

Besides that, NO! Spend your debt-ridden-recession-struck money more wisely! SAVE TOHOKU!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

How are the people in the Tohoku region coping? The government might like to try and forget about those poor souls, but I certainly won't and I hope the population doesn't either.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I dont really think Olympics will help boost Sapporo's economy, look at Nagano ken now, the places where they held the Olympics look like a ghost town, only skiers and old ryokan is keeping that place running. And this is only every winter season. The only thing that reminds the people of the Winter Olympics was a small monument close to the station. At 18:00 pm the whole street is empty and shops are almost all closed. The snow monkey park is attracting more tourist than what the past Olympics left behind... if there are still any....

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The next Olympics aren't here until 2020 and I'm already tired of them.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Crazy idea. And the disturbing thing - from a taxpayer point of view - is that Sapporo will probably win: they will likely be the only candidate. No no no no no !

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Perhaps if they tell the IOC it will be a "compact" Olympics, with all venues within 8km of each other....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Toshiko - Yes you are correct, no workers in Tohoku because they are all in Tokyo building up for the 2020 games. It's not only manpower that is lacking but also heavy equipment. There are still close to 90,000 people living in temporary housing that was meant to last only two years and is now increasingly falling into decrepit conditions. The clean up of the nuke plant is a farce and will continue for decades and people want another Olympics? Abe wants to increase the sales tax and the displaced have to shoulder that burden as well? Misplaced priorities me thinks...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Doesn't anybody get this? This is feel good politics at it's best. this event won't even happen for another 12 years and the mayor will most likely be dead by that time. Does anyone know how much both Nagano and Sapporo have spent on their Olympic facilities per year for management, staff and maintenance etc, etc? Neither does anyone else I'm sure! There is no way in hell these cities turn a profit when you factor in the above. How much does the JOC or the central government subsidize the event holders after the Olympics close? Anyone one want to bet it's not enough to keep the electricity running!

Typical, typical typical Japan politics! Next they will have the whole AKB bonanza dressed in skimpy Santa suits marching down main street trying to persuade everyone to jump on the band wagon! Hope the city doesn't have to spend half of it's campaign costs on advertising to the citizens of Sapporo in an effort to raise the dismal support figures as did Tokyo! Spend a huge sum of your own tax money on campaigns to convince you it's a great idea, what a joke!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why does Japan wnt to host everything under the UN using OUR money?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I think Sapporo can reduce the price tag substantially in comparison with the Sochi games, given that the area already has considerable infrastructure in place (hotels, transportation, etc), and the recent backlash against unreasonable Olympic Committee demands of host cities is causing the OC to rethink its approach.

Are you sure, I seem to recall a very recent example of a winning city that had mountains of ca$h on hand to handle the Olympics with most venues etc already in place, just need a few tweaks & bit of construction.

They won! And then within weeks the budgets went from miniscule to MANY 100s of percentage over & will like skyrocket further..............for the life of me I can remember the city....

Wait it was Tokyo!!!!

Your dreaming if you think Sapporo can/will host using existing facilities, dreaming big time!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Just say no.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Does Sappori have large skating arena builldings that can have abou 60,000 viewers seats? If there is no b uilding they can not lend, if has to be built. Ad income is large but it is not like lending a building. If other countries seem not profittable IOC might choose Sapporo but it will be like Tokyo, Eith many huge indoor outdoor sport areans including many universitir=es, Los Angels snubbed while Tokyo, Turkeym and Madrid competed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Does anyone know how much both Nagano and Sapporo have spent on their Olympic facilities per year for management, staff and maintenance etc, etc?

They tore down the Olympic village, so zero yen per year for that. The Olympic ice rink is still used in all seasons; I saw Oasis play there shortly before they broke up, and skate events are held. The ski jumps, with the exception of the environmentally controversial Mt. Eniwa ski run, are still there and are used for FIS and other events. Ditto for the cross country skiing courses. The Olympics were the impetus for the first subway line in Sapporo, a jumping-off point for the Sapporo we see today. I generally agree that Olympics are boondoggles, but the city has an excellent transport system and decent winter facilities. Some will have to be upgraded (skating rinks); others will be upgraded whether or not they need to be. With increases in tourism in recent years, especially in inbound tourists from other parts of Asia, the costs could be recouped.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"The total cost of the tournament is 404.5 billion yen of which the city (Sapporo) pays 71.5 billion yen."

Sapporo City doesn't have 71,500,000,000 yen for this...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Serrano: if only 71.5 billion yens needed, Sapporo must be computing Commercial income from Japan Inc. Nintendo usually spend twice more than top of other spenders. auto makers, tire makers, etc compete to spend. They were not interested when European cities were still trying. If tax money is involved, it is either Hokkai do tax money or Sapporo city tzx money. Nothing to do with Japanese people's tax money. About Tohoku help, Hokkaido has no responsibility. Japanese Government already paid to Tohoku cities and prefectures. Money is sitting in bank, Well not sitting. Banks invested. Looke back JT articles a few months ago. .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

dbsaiya

Untrue. There is a shortage of builders and carpenters in Tokyo because many are in Tohoku.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The clean up of the nuke plant is a farce and will continue for decades and people want another Olympics?

Clean-up? What "problem" are you talking about? Abe waved his magic wand and that unfortunate event is now history and been swept under the rug, along with all the people who live in those decaying temporary houses too.

Of course they want another Olympics, keep the focus on everything except what it should be focused on!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I just can't help but wonder what Japan's financial state will be like at that time? Default ?? Thumb me down but it is a question worth reflecting.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The clean up of the nuke plant is a farce and will continue for decades and people want another Olympics?

I just can't help but wonder what Japan's financial state will be like at that time? Default ?? Thumb me down but it is a question worth refle

Above comments writers; Sapporo is planning Olympic. Are there Nuc plants to be cleaned in Sapporo? It does not matter Japan will have any financial status. Sapporo is a place in Hokkaido, but Sapporo is not amother name of Japanese Nation. I have feeling that Sapporo already have inquiryby commercial sponsers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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