Tokyo to host 2020 Olympics, celebrations across Japan

Tokyo celebrated after being awarded the 2020 Olympic Games on Sunday, with a huge roar arising from thousands gathered in a park in the early hours of a grey, humid morning and people embracing on street corners in the city. Tokyo overcame a worsening crisis at a nuclear plant 230km (140 miles) away as well as a one-time lack of local support to convincingly beat rivals Istanbul and Madrid for the right to stage the Games for the second time.

[caption id=“attachment_109336” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) of Japan shakes hands with Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during the Signature of the Host City Contract ceremony after Tokyo was selected as the city to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Buenos Aires September 7, 2013. REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian [/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109336” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures as he speaks during Tokyo 2020 kick off rally in Tokyo August 23, 2013. REUTERS/Yuya Shino [/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109336” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Japanese Olympians and Tokyo Olympic bidding committee members celebrate after hearing that Tokyo had been chosen to host the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. REUTERS/Kyodo[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109336” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Golden confetti is set off into the air during an event celebrating Tokyo being chosen to host the 2020 Olympic Games, at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109337” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Participants wave inflatable clappers during an event celebrating Tokyo being chosen to host the 2020 Olympic Games, at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo. Reuters/Yuya Shino [/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109337” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The Tokyo Stadium, one of the proposed Olympic stadiums for the 2020 Summer Olympic games, is seen in this computer-generated file handout image provided by the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee. Reuters.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109337” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] An aerial view shows people sitting in formation to the words “thank you” and displaying signs that collectively read “Arigato” (Thank You) during an event celebrating Tokyo being chosen to host the 2020 Olympic Games, at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Reuters.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_109337” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Turks react after finding out that Tokyo was awarded the right to host the 2020 Summer Games as they watch it live on big screens in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul. Reuters/Murad Sezer [/caption]