2020 Olympic Games go to Tokyo

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Tokyo was selected Saturday to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, beating out Istanbul and Madrid in a major victory for a country still recovering from a nuclear plant meltdown.

Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Summer Games, was seen as the safest course for the International Olympic Committee because of its experience organizing major events and its sense of economic security in a time of political and financial uncertainty across the globe. Japan has twice hosted the Winter Games, more recently in Nagano in 1998, and it co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea.

Japan offers a $ 4.5 billion guaranteed reserve fund, plenty of hotel rooms for visitors and a dependable transportation system. The selection of Tokyo, conducted in a secret ballot by about 100 IOC members gathered here, was also seen as a chance to help a willing and

sturdy Olympic partner recover from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

At a gymnasium packed with about 2,000 people in the center of Tokyo, some waved banners that read “Definitely Tokyo 2020!” and “We won’t give up!”

The moment the result of the vote was flashed on a big screen, the place erupted in cheers and a drawn-out “Tokyo” chant as gold streamers rained down on the crowd.

“I’m very happy, of course,” said Kawate

Tomoko, 46, a sports trainer. “I hope that we can do a proper job in front of the world.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the public broadcaster NHK that the delegation’s members had been at the edge of their seats until the last minute.

“My heart was pounding, but I’m now very happy,” Abe said. “I think we got across our message that we are a safe and sure choice for the Olympics.”

Shinzo Abe