Congratulations to Rio de Janeiro on a great bid to secure the 2016 Olympic Games!

My personal feeling as an insider living in Tokyo is that the locals are more concerned about holding onto their jobs and homes than worrying about the huge financial burden associated with operating the Games.

Just read a very interesting article on the aftermath of the result.

The Tokyo 2016 bid committee is facing some awkward questions about the failed 15 billion yen bid, including calls for explanations of how the money was spent and the fate of land set aside for Games’ sites.

 The metropolitan government now has to explain to Tokyo citizens how it spent the money. 10 billion yen in tax money was used to dispatch officials overseas and to hold Olympic related events to build support for the bid. But this is double what Osaka spent on its unsuccessful attempt to hold the 2008 Summer Games.

I read that there may be a plan to pitch again for the 2020 Games. But will the locals really buy into this plan after all these costs surface? Certainly Tokyo’s 2016 bid offered the best options for eco friendly management and sustainability. It is interesting that even Obama could not bring success for Chicago.

Japan is dogged by political scandals, so no doubt the next few weeks we will hear of the lavish spending that went on. Plus the former Foreign Minister, who famously appeared drunk in front of reporters at a European Summit, has just been found dead in his apartment.

Never a dull moment in the political scene here in Japan!