Скачать или смотреть Japanese Olympic athletes and Paralympians hold news conference

(5 Sep 2013) In a tight race to land the 2020 Olympics, Tokyo bid leaders tried Thursday to focus on the country's clean record in doping, hoping to turn the spotlight away from the radioactive water leak at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan.
"I am proud that no Japanese athlete has ever failed a doping test at Olympic and Paralympic games. Japan has a perfect record," said Yuki Ota, London 2012 fencing silver medallist speaking at a news conference in Argentina's capital.
Ota, a two-time silver medallist in fencing, was one of a dozen athletes who participated in the International Olympic Committee news conference in Buenos Aires to promote Tokyo's bid.
Ota gave some insight into some of the content of Japan's 2020 bid presentation that the delegation will deliver on Saturday.
"Speaking as an athlete, I am very happy that our presentation addresses one of the biggest threats facing sport today: doping," Ota said.
Children are taught about doping ethics at school and the athletes said doping goes against their collective sense of ethics.
Daichi Suzuki, a 1988 Olympic swimming gold medallist and a member of WADA's athletes committee added, "We find it really hard to understand why you would cheat, that's just the sort of people the Japanese are. That's why we are really proud of this (clean doping record)."
International worries stemming from the radiation leaks from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant damaged by the 2011 Tsunami have beset the Japanese bid.
Yuko Arakida, Tokyo 2020 Sports director and 1976 volleyball gold medallist said, "Of course, we athletes would like for this (Fukushima) problem to be resolved quickly, but what we can do here is to convey our thought that hosting the Olympics would cheer the children and people from the (2011 tsunami) disaster areas."
IOC members will pick the host city on Saturday with Madrid and Istanbul also in the running.
All three cities present liabilities and IOC members may settle for the bid with the fewest problems.
Istanbul has faced questions about a string of embarrassing doping cases and a civil war in Syria on its border.
Madrid has also tried to deflect inquires about doping and the 27 percent unemployment rate in one of Europe's largest economies.
Tokyo is seen as the favourite, although the race is viewed as too close to call.
British bookmaker Ladbrokes lists Tokyo as the favourite at odds of 4-6, meaning a 6 US dollar bet will return 4 US dollar plus the original stake.
Madrid and Istanbul are the outsiders. Madrid is 11-4 and Istanbul is 3-1.

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