Tokyo's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 today gained further momentum as the national Government of Japan officially backed Tokyo's bid with Cabinet approval to support Tokyo 2020’s campaign to bring the Games to Tokyo.

The Government of Japan promulgated the Basic Sports Law earlier this year, and in line with the policies set out in the legislation, the Cabinet today gave its approval of the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a means of promoting the development of sport for citizens across the country, regardless of age, gender or ability.

The statement of approval also cites the staging of the Games as beneficial to international friendship and goodwill, and hopes the 2020 Games will serve as a symbol of Japan’s recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the northeastern part of Japan in March.
Tokyo 2020 President and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda said, “Today’s declaration of support from the Cabinet constitutes another major piece in the jigsaw and ensures that we will receive widespread support from both the public and private sectors as we strive to bring the Games to Tokyo in 2020.”

Last week, both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors passed resolutions to provide their full cooperation and support to Tokyo’s campaign. Last month, the bid committee also launched the Tokyo 2020 Council, a premium advisory board consisting of 64 members from the government, including Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda who serves as Supreme Advisor, and leading figures from Japan’s business and sporting communities.