The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Beijing

The chairman of the Tokyo bid committee to host the 2016 Olympics on Monday dismissed suggestions that having two Olympics in Asia in eight years would hurt their chances.

Ichiro Kono turned the argument on its head.

"There will be two Olympics in Europe and one in North America within four years of each other, so why not two in Asia in eight years," he said, referring to the Games in Vancouver (2110), London (2012) and Sochi (2114).

Kono, whose rival bidders are front runners Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janiero, said he and his team would be here to learn a lot from Beijing on how to run the games.

Fellow team member Nagatoshi Nakamura said the new logo which is the 'musubi knot' and the mantra 'uniting the world' would reflect what would happen to Tokyo if the bid is successful.

"It would create a new dynamism in the city. Sport and Tokyo will become one. It will unite the city with ocean and nature."

The 2016 Olympic host will be announced in October 2009 in Copenhagen.