Tokyo's Olympic bid support rate rises to 77%March 26, 2013 - 16:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Organizers of Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Olympics said Tuesday, March 26 public support for their campaign had risen to 77 percent as IOC inspectors make a fact-finding tour of three candidate cities, AFP reported. The support rate was up four points from January, the Tokyo bid committee said, citing its own telephone surveys. The rate started at 58 percent in July last year. A team from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluation commission visited Tokyo from March 4-7 to scrutinize the bid and inspect existing and planned facilities for the Games. The team was due to end its four-day visit to Istanbul on Wednesday after a similar trip to Madrid last week. The IOC inspection tour “enhanced public understanding of our bid activities and led to a rise in the support rate”, a statement said. According to recent surveys by the IOC itself, public support was 70 percent for Tokyo, 76 percent for Madrid and 83 percent for Istanbul. Tepid public support was seen as a reason for Tokyo’s failure to secure the 2016 summer Games won by Rio de Janeiro. The 100-plus IOC members will vote to choose the 2020 host city in Buenos Aires on September 7 after studying a technical report by the commission on the three bids. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |