But the day-to-day running of the two-year campaign will be overseen by Tsunekazu Takeda, the President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), together with Mizuno, Kyodo news has reported. 

Mizuno, 68, had been lined-up for a similar role in Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics but in the end he was not appointed because it was believed that his role at Mizuno Corporation represented a conflict of interest.

But Mizuno resigned as the company's chairman of the Board and representative director on Monday (September 5) after 23 years as the firm's leader to leave him free to take the role for this bid, which has surprisingly been installed as the favourites by British bookmaker William Hill. 

He will be in charge of the business affairs of Tokyo's bid, which will face oppsition from Baku, Doha, Istanbul, Madrid and Rome.

The United States-educated Mizuno will be a valuable asset to Tokyo's bid.

The company his grandfather Rihachi founded in 1906 is now Japan's biggest sports manufacturer and one of the biggest in the world, probably best known in golf and baseball.

Mizuno has worked with some of the most prominent personalities in sports, such as nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, the All Blacks rugby team, Czech tennis player Ivan Lendl, and Nick Faldo, arguably Britain's greatest ever golfer.

The firm was also a sponsor of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and Mizuno, a vice-president of the JOC, is steeped in the history of the Games.

In an interview published in 2009, he explained why he is such a passionate supporter of the Olympic Movement.

"Because the Olympics has such a strong impact in preserving peace," he said.

"The ancient Olympics started this spirit by requiring that all its participants have an agreement not to engage in any confrontation among themselves before an Olympics.

"I strongly support the idea that there should be no conflict or war before, during or after an Olympics for at least three months.

"This has been the Olympic tradition since its beginning in 776 BC and 1,200 years onward.

"It has persisted every four years when the Olympic Games have been held.

"It is the philosophy of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, and I am strongly impacted by it and guided by it."


The 78-year-old Ishihara (pictured), who has been the Governor of Tokyo, also led the Japanese capital's campaign for 2016 and has been the driving force behind persuading the Government to support this latest bid following the massive earthquake and tsunami in March that killed more than 16,000 people.

It was Ishihara who had officially launched Tokyo's bid at a special ceremony there in July that was attended by IOC President Jacques Rogge. 

Takeda, 64, is a former show jumper who represented Japan at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics in Munich and Montreal respecitvely.

He has been recommended for IOC membership next year by Rogge. 

Takeda's father, Tsuneyoshi, who was a grandson of Emperor Meiji, also served as an IOC member.

Tsuneyoshi Takeda became President of the JOC in 1962 and was involved in the organisation of the1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.

Tokyo will have an early opportunity to showcase its Olympic bid when it hosts the World Gymnanstics Championships from October 7 to 16.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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