Tokyo, 15 January 2008: The TOKYO 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee today unveiled their dynamic and ground-breaking 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games concept with an exceptionally compact and green Games located in the very centre of Tokyo and at the heart of city life in Japan’s vibrant capital.

Speaking in support of the launch, Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo and President of the TOKYO 2016 Bid Committee said:

"The TOKYO 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will demonstrate a new model for the world's largest event to be staged in the heart of a mature and contemporary urban metropolis. One of the real assets behind TOKYO 2016 is that we have a pre-existing 10-year city plan to achieve a sustainable future for Tokyo - 'Tokyo's Big Change' - which was published in 2006 and builds to 2016. This blueprint for sustainable development, combined with the policies, programmes, resources and political support captured in the TOKYO 2016 Games Plan will provide a powerful and reliable underpinning for success in organising and delivering the Olympic Games in 2016."

The TOKYO 2016 concept has three foundations:

�� Uniquely in Olympic Games history, the city centre of Tokyo will become the "TOKYO 2016 Olympic Park", where athletes will be able to live, compete, travel and train in one compact urban Games environment.

�� The heart of the city will be the heart of the Games. The Olympic Stadium and Olympic Village will be located in central Tokyo and will also be at the centre of the Games plan.

�� 95% of all competition venues will be within central Tokyo and within 8km of the Olympic Stadium and Village.

�� Athletes travel times from the village to the Tokyo venues will be within 20 minutes.

�� All Olympic family constituents such as athletes, officials, media and accredited guests will be able to move easily around Tokyo in zero- or low-emissions transport services in lanes designated for Olympic use.

�� Spectators will enjoy Tokyo's world-famous, efficient and high-tech transportation system, which provides convenient access to all venues.

The TOKYO 2016 venues will be organised into two highly compact, overlapping venue zones - The Tokyo Bay venue zone and The Heritage venue zone. These will contain venue clusters which, for the first time in Olympic Games history, will be themed around (and integrated) with major urban features to promote a unique Games experience.

�� The Tokyo Bay Zone is entirely based on land reclaimed from the ocean, in the waterfront area of central Tokyo which urgently requires comprehensive regeneration. The Tokyo Bay Zone also represents a fundamental return to Tokyo's historical affinity with the sea. Within this compact zone will be two themed clusters of venues, Dream Island and Sea Forest (allowing Olympic Family to experience a showcase in ecologically sustainable urban environments).

�� The Heritage Zone also contains two themed clusters of venues, the Palace Cluster (based around the stunning and historic Imperial Palace) and the Yoyogi Cluster (based around the iconic 1964 Olympic stadium and venues).

�� The Tokyo Bay Zone and Heritage Zone overlap at the centre of Tokyo and at the centre of the Games plan. It is here that the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village and Main Media Centre and competition venues for 6 other sports will be based in the fifth and final cluster, the Musubi Cluster, themed around the world living in harmony.

�� This plan will ensure that future generations will enjoy a rich sporting, social, environmental and economic legacy. The TOKYO 2016 Games will act as a legacy blueprint for all cities wishing to host major global events.

�� During the 2016 Games, where central Tokyo would be the Olympic Park, careful  planning will allow the Olympic experience to permeate the city, home to about 8.5 million people, in harmony with daily life. The Games will become an integrated part of the commercial and social fabric of the city.

�� The Games would be incorporated in the heart of all that is best in the centre of Tokyo: from Tokyo’s Michelin award -winning restaurants to the city’s world-leading environmental initiatives; from Tokyo’s historic cultural assets to the city’s vibrant contemporary youth culture.

�� The Games will help Tokyo to become a fully sustainable city with the lowest environmental load in the world, a new modern for the 21st century.

�� The City would embrace the Paralympic Games enabling Tokyo to showcase its leading accessibility and inclusion initiatives.

�� The "Olympic Experience" in Tokyo will be lifted to new heights by integrating the excitement of the Games with the excitement of Tokyo's urban life.

CEO and Chairman, Dr Ichiro Kono commenting on the main aspects of the concept, said:

“This is an historic day for Tokyo, Japan and the whole Olympic Movement. We have produced a blueprint for a truly urbanised Games. Our plan proves that a large city and the Games can not just co-exist but can form an integrated, dynamic and seamless experience for all to enjoy. This ensures a viable plan with a sustainable legacy for generations to come”.

The contents of TOKYO 2016's Application File, submitted to the International Olympic Committee 4 days early, have been uploaded onto the Bid's official website at www.tokyo2016.or.jp.

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For further information, please contact:

Hidetoshi Maki (Mr), Deputy Director General, Tokyo 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee

Masa Takaya (Mr), Manager, Planning & PR Div., Tokyo 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee +81-3-5320-2480, masanori.takaya@tokyo2016.or.jp