Tokyo to stage 2020 Paralympic Games

“Having staged the second ever Paralympic Games in 1964 when the Movement was still in its infancy, it will be brilliant for us to go back in 2020 now that the Games have grown up and matured into the world’s third biggest sporting event."

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has sent its congratulations to Tokyo after the city was awarded the right to stage the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Three candidate cities – Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo – bid for the Games and after a secret ballot on Saturday (7 September) in Buenos Aries, Argentina, IOC members chose Tokyo as the host city for 2020.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “On behalf of the whole Paralympic Movement I would like to congratulate the bid committee of Tokyo on their success in winning the right to stage the 2020 Games. What they proposed here in Buenos Aries and in their bid book has the potential to take the Paralympic Movement to new levels.

“Having staged the second ever Paralympic Games in 1964 when the Movement was still in its infancy, it will be brilliant for us to go back in 2020 now that the Games have grown up and matured into the world’s third biggest sporting event.

“The 2020 Paralympics will send a strong message of inclusion not just to Japan but to the rest of Asia building on previous successful Games in the continent. The bid’s “Discover Tomorrow” vision aims to put Tokyo’s power for innovation and inspiration at the heart of the Games and in terms of the Paralympics this means further accessibility improvements and a strong focus on sport for a better and healthier city.

“These Games offer huge potential as well both commercially and in terms of television. We are sure athletes will not only be delighted with having all venues close by but also by Tokyo’s desire to sell-out every single venue and sport.

“We look forward to working with them hand-in-hand over the coming seven years to deliver a superb Paralympic Games in 2020.

“London 2012 raised the bar last year in terms of delivering the best ever Paralympics and we are confident that both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 can raise the bar even higher in coming years.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the two unsuccessful cities Madrid and Istanbul. Both put forward strong cases to stage the Games, and both showed great commitment to delivering strong Paralympic Games.

“Following the success of last summer all bidding cities now know that the Paralympic Games are a superb event in their own right, and one half of one huge 60 day festival of sport alongside the Olympics.”

The Tokyo 1964 Paralympics Games featured 378 athletes from 21 countries who competed in nine sports – archery, athletics, dartchery, snooker, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair fencing.

More than 5,000 people attended the Opening Ceremony including the Games’ patrons his Imperial Highness Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko. USA topped the medals table picking up 123 medals, including 50 gold.

The first round of voting in the 2020 election saw Tokyo poll the most votes, whilst Istanbul and Madrid were tied in second place. A tie breaker then took place with Istanbul picking more votes leading to Madrid’s elimination.