Hatoyama to be asked to attend key IOC meeting in Copenhagen to back Tokyo’s 2016 bid

Japan’s Hatoyama may attend 2016 Olympic vote

TOKYO — Japan’s incoming prime minister Yukio Hatoyama will be asked to support Tokyo’s 2016 Olympic bid by attending the IOC meeting in Copenhagen next month.

“We would like our prime minister to attend,” JOC secretary general Noriyuki Ichihara said Friday without naming Hatoyama because his appointment as prime minister will not be official until Sept. 16.

Hatoyama’s Democratic Party of Japan won a landslide victory in last week’s elections, making it the largest party in the lower house of parliament.

Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, is competing against Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Summer Games. The International Olympic Committee will vote for the host city on Oct. 2.

It’s still uncertain whether President Barack Obama will travel to Copenhagen to help Chicago’s bid.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Spanish King Juan Carlos have announced they will go to Copenhagen. Tokyo has also invited Crown Prince Naruhito to attend.