Sapporo suspends Olympic bid events
The Japanese city of Sapporo will stop promoting its 2030 Winter Olympics bid and hold a nationwide poll to gauge support after a corruption scandal over last year's Tokyo Games, local officials have announced.
The moves come as prosecutors continue to investigate corruption including alleged bid-rigging at the Covid-postponed summer games in Tokyo.
"In light of the case related to Tokyo, it has been determined that we must design a clean Games," AkifumiKudo, a local official working on the municipal bid, told AFP.
Sapporo had been seen as the frontrunner to host the Winter Games for a second time, ahead of rivals Salt Lake City and Vancouver, but the corruption scandal has soured the bid.
Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto said Tuesday the city needed time to draft strong anti-corruption measures to win public support, given the cloud over last year's event.
"Rather than just running to the goal and closing our eyes to our surroundings, we have concluded that our priority should be to clear away any concerns or doubts the public has," he told reporters.
"We will revisit and publish our operational plan for the Games, while confirming the public's will," he added, insisting Sapporo was still committed to its bid.
The city hopes to finalise a new plan for the Games in the spring, then conduct nationwide polling to gauge support, Kudo said.
Earlier this month, the governor of Hokkaido, where Sapporo is located, warned that the bid had become "difficult".
"When you consider the series of problems related to the Tokyo Olympics, it will be difficult to build momentum with things as they are," Naomichi Suzuki said.
Prosecutors have arrested former Tokyo Games executive Haruyuki Takahashi on suspicion of taking bribes in return for helping companies become official event sponsors.
The scandal has also engulfed the company that produced toy versions of the Games mascots, as well as a suit retailer, a publishing firm and major advertising agencies.
Former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, who resigned as Tokyo 2020 president after making sexist comments, volunteered to be interviewed by prosecutors in September.
Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee decided to postpone selecting a host for the 2030 Winter Games, citing concerns about the impact of climate change.
-
雅安公安接连破获两起汉源湖非法捕捞案How Samsung's foldable phone will workChilwell's World Cup in severe doubt after injury当天止住消化道大出血[Online Predators] Deepfake pornography haunts S. Korea8 Chinese tourists arrested for assaulting Korean restaurant owner500 people squeezed into the world's most epic family photoThis was the most political Super Bowl everThe MeasurersThe 'No guy has all 3' meme has the internet searching for the perfect man
下一篇:Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 27
- ·Travel Back in Time and Uncover Old
- ·Chilwell's World Cup in severe doubt after injury
- ·Korea hosts synergistic, dynamic, decisive dialogue
- ·Lewandowski snatches Barca win at Valencia
- ·Swifties for Kamala raises over $100,000 in donations for Harris campaign
- ·North Korea delays nuclear test due to pressure from China, fear of backlash: experts
- ·Quality apps to keep little kids entertained
- ·美好环境靠大家 陋习都改改
- ·NYT mini crossword answers for August 29
- ·Boris Johnson butter sculpture appears outside UK parliament
- ·小暑来了 盛夏开始 夏季商品迎来销售旺季
- ·Son undergoes surgery ahead of World Cup
- ·What Ever Happened to Flickr?
- ·Djokovic hits the ground running in Paris
- ·I'll retire at Real Madrid, says Kroos
- ·The 'No guy has all 3' meme has the internet searching for the perfect man
- ·Alcaraz vs. Van de Zandschulp 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- ·Yoon says North Korea is ready to conduct nuclear test at any time
- ·WhatsApp ‘Status’ feature will soon include ads
- ·遏制感染源头拯救绝望患者
- ·Keurig K Mini deal — get $30 off at Target
- ·Swiatek poised for picture
- ·Boris Johnson butter sculpture appears outside UK parliament
- ·South Korea's new envoy for North Korean rights vows efforts for 'human security'
- ·11 Places to See Tiny Trains
- ·How to download your personal data from Apple
- ·13 Astronomical Clocks Connecting Time And Space
- ·Former Saenuri whip renews calls for nuclear armament
- ·Gattuso, Xavi meet again as Valencia host Barca
- ·Coke ran an old diversity
- ·Pope says England are not 'one
- ·'Wolfenstein 3D' mod asks you politely whether you want to shoot Nazis
- ·8 Chinese tourists arrested for assaulting Korean restaurant owner
- ·China's largest internet company wants to give free internet to Indians
- ·海丰芥蓝入选全国名特优新农产品名录
- ·World Cup in players’ minds: Guardiola