Comments on: Tokyo Bid Strong for 2016 Olympic Host http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/ A Blog by a Proud Jamaican and Japan Enthusiast Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:48:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Shichi http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-4132 Shichi Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:53:39 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-4132 I'm against the Tokyo Olympic bid. Here's why http://www.theothereast.net/?p=517 I’m against the Tokyo Olympic bid. Here’s why
http://www.theothereast.net/?p=517

]]> By: PudgyM29 http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3977 PudgyM29 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:04:37 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3977 I live in Chicago, and <b>I do not want the city to win the bid either!</b> I am actually supporting Tokyo. I bought an official lapel pin from the shop on the 45th Floor of the Municipal Building in Shinjuku (the floor with the <i>free</i> observation deck) back in December 2008. Let me tell you the <i>most glaring</i> fault facing Chicago, especially compared to Tokyo. We have a reasonably good public transit system. But it hasn't been maintained well. And, its proximity to the facilities the games would use is <i>horrid</i>. There are <b>two</b> stadia which would be used for Soccer (Football) matches. One is the new, overblown Soldier Field (if you have any old videos of World Cup 1994 matches from Chicago [featuring Germany] - <i>it now looks nothing like that</i>); and the other is the new, soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview, a near southwestern suburb. Guess who bought the naming rights for it? That's correct: It is called <b>Toyota Park</b>. I guess Nissan blew its budget on Yokohama. <i>Neither</i> of these stadia are within walking distance of the city's rail or subway systems! There would have to be <i>shuttle buses</i> picking up spectators from the closest train stations (½-mile for Soldier Field; <b>4½</b> miles for Toyota Park). I've walked to both National Stadium, and Yokohama International Stadium from the nearest subway station [E-25 on the Toei Oedo line; Kozukue on the JR Yokohama line]. That was manageable. Finally, let me throw one more ingredient into the pot. We both know that the culture of other countries, including those bidding for the 2016 games, includes <i>not-so-secret</i> attitudes towards bribe-taking. If Madrid or Rio De Janiero decides to go the direct route and scarf up some money to give to the committee's members, well, guess who will win? There is something to be said for history though. In 1964, the U.S. city which lost out to Tokyo was <b>Detroit</b>. I live in Chicago, and I do not want the city to win the bid either! I am actually supporting Tokyo. I bought an official lapel pin from the shop on the 45th Floor of the Municipal Building in Shinjuku (the floor with the free observation deck) back in December 2008.
Let me tell you the most glaring fault facing Chicago, especially compared to Tokyo. We have a reasonably good public transit system. But it hasn’t been maintained well. And, its proximity to the facilities the games would use is horrid.
There are two stadia which would be used for Soccer (Football) matches. One is the new, overblown Soldier Field (if you have any old videos of World Cup 1994 matches from Chicago [featuring Germany] – it now looks nothing like that); and the other is the new, soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview, a near southwestern suburb. Guess who bought the naming rights for it?
That’s correct: It is called Toyota Park. I guess Nissan blew its budget on Yokohama.
Neither of these stadia are within walking distance of the city’s rail or subway systems! There would have to be shuttle buses picking up spectators from the closest train stations (½-mile for Soldier Field; 4½ miles for Toyota Park).
I’ve walked to both National Stadium, and Yokohama International Stadium from the nearest subway station [E-25 on the Toei Oedo line; Kozukue on the JR Yokohama line]. That was manageable.
Finally, let me throw one more ingredient into the pot. We both know that the culture of other countries, including those bidding for the 2016 games, includes not-so-secret attitudes towards bribe-taking.
If Madrid or Rio De Janiero decides to go the direct route and scarf up some money to give to the committee’s members, well, guess who will win?
There is something to be said for history though. In 1964, the U.S. city which lost out to Tokyo was Detroit.

]]> By: Doug http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3882 Doug Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:10:01 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3882 I'm a big fan of Japan, and thus I think the Olympics in Tokyo would be the worst thing to ever happen to it - I'd be willing to protest even. They want to ruin Yoyogi Park to make way for Olympic facilities! For this reason, I say Rio in '16! http://ddurgee.blogspot.com/2009/02/rio-for-olympics-in-2016.html I’m a big fan of Japan, and thus I think the Olympics in Tokyo would be the worst thing to ever happen to it – I’d be willing to protest even. They want to ruin Yoyogi Park to make way for Olympic facilities! For this reason, I say Rio in ‘16!

http://ddurgee.blogspot.com/2009/02/rio-for-olympics-in-2016.html

]]> By: Hao http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3855 Hao Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:20:12 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3855 I do think that lots of problems will arise with Olympics in Tokyo as most people wrote. However, that aside, I would love Tokyo to host the Olympics since I am a big fan of both Japan and Olympics. I do think that lots of problems will arise with Olympics in Tokyo as most people wrote. However, that aside, I would love Tokyo to host the Olympics since I am a big fan of both Japan and Olympics.

]]> By: Darlo http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3848 Darlo Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:34:45 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3848 It'd be great if Tokyo could get it, especially seeing as it'd be my country doing the handover to a country in which I love being in. It’d be great if Tokyo could get it, especially seeing as it’d be my country doing the handover to a country in which I love being in.

]]> By: Stunner http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3836 Stunner Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:33:09 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3836 I know you are in full support of Tokyo! I know you are in full support of Tokyo!

]]> By: reesan http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3826 reesan Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:58:12 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3826 i like their pitch that they will have the most compact games with more than 95% of venues being located less than 8 kilometres from the main stadium. i like their pitch that they will have the most compact games with more than 95% of venues being located less than 8 kilometres from the main stadium.

]]> By: Tom http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3824 Tom Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:25:09 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3824 In addition to what Billy said above, Tokyo is packed as it is. Imagine the congestion the Olympics would bring. In addition to what Billy said above, Tokyo is packed as it is. Imagine the congestion the Olympics would bring.

]]> By: billywest http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3814 billywest Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:24:40 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3814 Not sure if I'll still be in Tokyo in 2016, but I'm thinking I'd rather not see the olympics here. I love the town, but it's typically not tourist-friendly and doesn't deserve to host the world at this point. I mean, a high-level government official in charge of tourism here actually said recently that Japanese don't like foreigners. Japan may lead the world in electronics and automobiles, but in so many other respects it's practically third-world. Not sure if I’ll still be in Tokyo in 2016, but I’m thinking I’d rather not see the olympics here. I love the town, but it’s typically not tourist-friendly and doesn’t deserve to host the world at this point. I mean, a high-level government official in charge of tourism here actually said recently that Japanese don’t like foreigners. Japan may lead the world in electronics and automobiles, but in so many other respects it’s practically third-world.

]]> By: Sanjo-chan http://www.jamaipanese.com/tokyo-2016-olympic-games-bid/comment-page-1/#comment-3810 Sanjo-chan Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:09:58 +0000 http://www.jamaipanese.com/?p=934#comment-3810 I personally hope Tokyo wins the bid. As a former Chicagoan, I don't think the city is ready for such a huge event, though they are actively preparing for it and the reaction from the Obama victory showed how "ready" they are. But if either Tokyo or Chicago (if they improve) wins, I would like to go (especially Tokyo, hehe). ^^ I personally hope Tokyo wins the bid. As a former Chicagoan, I don’t think the city is ready for such a huge event, though they are actively preparing for it and the reaction from the Obama victory showed how “ready” they are. But if either Tokyo or Chicago (if they improve) wins, I would like to go (especially Tokyo, hehe). ^^

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