The Tokyo Skytree, which stands at 634 metres (2,080 feet), was dramatically illuminated in the Olympic colours and the traditional Japanese Edo purple during a ceremony that included the presence of six of Japan's London 2012 medallists, as well as Government officials and business leaders, exactly a year before the election at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires on September 7, 2013.

Earlier, in downtown Tokyo, four Japanese medallists from the London 2012 Games, including men's 66 kilogram freestyle wrestling gold medallist Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, women's 48kg freestyle wrestling gold medallist Hitomi Obara, women's judo 57kg weight class gold medallist Kaori Matsumoto and men's boxing middleweight gold medallist Ryota Murata, publicly reiterated their support for Tokyo's bid, which will face rivals Istanbul and Madrid.

"It was the first time I ever participated in the Olympics, and when I cheered my teammates from the stands after I finished competing, I realised again how amazing the Olympics are and was truly inspired," said Obera.

"I really hope Tokyo hosts the 2020 Games."

"It will be wonderful if Tokyo hosts the 2020 Games, as people all over the country including little children will see the matches live and experience the inspiration and courage first-hand."

Japanese athletes, politicians and business leaders came together today to back Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics with one-year to go until the vote in Buenos Aires

The event also attracted the enthusiastic participation of a number of senior officials, including Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Shintaro Ishihara, the driving force behind the city's second consecutive bid having lost out to host 2016 to Rio de Janeiro. 

During the illumination event at Tokyo Skytree, Tsunekazu Takeda, the President of Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), and Masato Mizuno, Tokyo the Tokyo 2020 chief executive, also received support for the bid from Hiromi Miyake, silver medallist of the women's weightlifting 48kg division, and Aya Terakawa, the 100m backstroke and 4x100m relay bronze medallist.

"Excitement and momentum are building as we enter this final year of our bid to welcome the world to Tokyo in 2020," said Takeda.

"We have strong backing across all levels of Japanese society, as reflected in the events today, which united Japanese government, business, sports leaders with members of the general public.

"We are a cohesive team underpinned by a deep national passion for sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

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