２０２０年東京五輪 復興と経済成長の起爆剤に

The Yomiuri Shimbun September 11, 2013
Tokyo Olympics sporting tonic to spur recovery, economic growth
２０２０年東京五輪　復興と経済成長の起爆剤に（9月10日付・読売社説）

　◆オールジャパンで成功させたい◆

We are delighted that the Olympic flame will be lit again in Tokyo.
　東京に再び聖火がともることを喜びたい。

Tokyo has been chosen to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics after comfortably defeating Istanbul in the decisive vote at the International Olympic Committee’s general meeting in Buenos Aires.
　２０２０年夏季五輪・パラリンピックの開催都市が東京に決まった。
　ブエノスアイレスでの国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）総会で、イスタンブールとの決選投票を大差で制し、招致を勝ち取った。

Fifty-six years after it hosted the Olympics in 1964, Tokyo will be home to the sports extravaganza for a second time. Together with the Winter Games in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998, the 2020 Games will be the fourth time Japan has hosted the Olympics.
　東京では１９６４年以来、５６年ぶりの五輪だ。冬季の札幌（７２年）、長野（９８年）と合わせると、日本では４度目の五輪となる。

Athletes from around the world will converge on Tokyo. The news that Tokyo has been selected to host the Games has probably given hope to many Japanese people. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he wants the Games to be “a spark to end deflation.”
　世界のアスリートが東京に集う。五輪決定の報は、多くの国民に希望をもたらしただろう。安倍首相は、五輪開催をデフレ脱却の「起爆剤にしたい」と語った。

All-out efforts got job done
　◆国挙げた招致が奏功◆

Seven years remain before the Tokyo Olympics begin. The nation must make unbridled efforts to ensure the international sports event is a success.
　開幕まで、あと７年。国を挙げて準備に万全を期し、スポーツの祭典を成功させたい。

Tokyo was said to be locked in a tight struggle with Istanbul and Madrid in the bidding race, but the final result was a solid victory by Tokyo.
　招致レースはイスタンブール、マドリードとの横一線と言われたが、結果は東京の完勝だった。

Final presentations by Paralympic athlete Mami Sato and other speakers at the IOC general meeting were all excellent and brimming with enthusiasm.
　ＩＯＣ総会で、パラリンピック選手の佐藤真海さんらによる最終プレゼンテーションは、いずれも熱意がこもった見事な内容だった。

Princess Hisako of Takamado expressed gratitude for the international support given after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011. Her remarks apparently struck a chord with IOC members who cast votes.
　高円宮妃久子さまが、東日本大震災での各国からの支援に謝辞を述べられたことは、票を投じたＩＯＣ委員の心に響いたのではないか。

One factor behind Tokyo’s victory was the all-out campaigning made by the wide spectrum of sectors behind the bid. The political and business worlds offered their full support. The public support rate for hosting the Games was significantly higher than it was during the unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Olympics.
　勝因の一つはオールジャパン体制で臨めた点だ。政財界が招致を全面支援した。五輪開催に対する国民の支持率は、２０１６年五輪の招致時より大幅に上昇した。

Ardent lobbying of IOC members by the Tokyo bidding committee, which consisted of Olympic medalists and others, also achieved the desired result.
　メダリストら招致委員会のメンバーによるＩＯＣ委員への積極的なロビー活動も功を奏した。

Tokyo’s blueprint and vision for the Games were rated highly from the very beginning. The main event venues will be within an eight-kilometer radius of the Olympic Village to minimize travel times for athletes as much as possible. The plans give utmost consideration to the athletes.
　東京の開催計画は、当初から高い評価を受けていた。移動時間を短縮させるため、主要な競技会場を選手村から半径８キロ・メートル圏内に集中させるなど、選手に最大限、配慮した内容と言える。

In light of its high public safety, well-prepared transport networks and accommodation facilities, and stable financial backing including funds of ¥400 billion, some IOC members likely voted for Tokyo because they recognized the capi-tal’s excellent ability to host such a major event. Tokyo fared well in these aspects, compared with the two other candidate cities, which are fraught with such problems as political instability and a fiscal crisis.
　４０００億円の基金など都の安定した財政基盤、整備された交通網や宿泊施設、良好な治安――。政情不安や財政危機などの問題を抱えた他の２都市と比較し、東京の高い開催能力を支持の決め手としたＩＯＣ委員もいただろう。

A primary concern that threatened to derail Tokyo’s bid—and an issue widely reported overseas—was the leaks of contaminated water at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　最も懸念されたのは、海外でも報じられている福島第一原子力発電所の汚染水問題だった。

On Friday, South Korea announced it would ban imports of marine products from Fukushima and seven other prefectures. This step, devoid of any scientific backing, is seen by some as an attempt by Seoul to tarnish Tokyo’s image.
　韓国は６日、福島県など８県の水産物の輸入を禁止すると発表した。科学的根拠を欠く措置だ。東京のイメージダウンを図ったとの見方もある。

Toxic leak issue festering
　◆汚染水問題の収束急げ◆

In response to a question by an IOC member, Abe said: “The impact [of the leak] has been completely blocked within the port facilities of the nuclear plant...In numerical terms, the level [of contaminants] monitored in waters off Fukushima Prefecture is one-500th of the standards set under the World Health Organization guidelines for drinking-water quality.”
　安倍首相は、ＩＯＣ側の質問に対し、「影響は原発の港湾内で完全にブロックされている」「福島近海でのモニタリング数値は、最大でもＷＨＯ（世界保健機関）の飲料水ガイドラインの５００分の１だ」などと説明した。

By using hard facts that ruled out the possibility that contaminated water might have an adverse impact on the Olympics, Abe’s explanation helped dispel concerns held by some IOC members.
　具体的事実を挙げて、五輪開催への影響を明確に否定したことが、ＩＯＣ委員が抱く不安の解消につながったと言えるだろう。

The government must steadily bring an end to these toxic water leaks.
　政府は今後、着実に汚染水問題を収束させねばならない。

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics showed the international com-munity that Japan was back on its feet after the end of World War II. In step with the holding of the Games, the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line went into operation between Tokyo and Osaka, and the Shuto Expressway network was built in the capital. Tokyo’s infrastructure was upgraded by leaps and bounds.
　６４年の東京五輪は、戦後の復興を世界に示した大会だった。東海道新幹線が開通し、首都高速道路が建設された。東京のインフラ整備が飛躍的に進んだ。

What legacy will the 2020 Olympics leave for future generations?
　２０２０年五輪は、どのような遺産を未来へと残すのか。

The expectations for the Games are massive. Abe even went as far as describing them as the “fourth arrow” of Abenomics, his economic policies comprising the “three arrows” of bold monetary easing, fiscal stimulus and a growth strategy.
　安倍首相が、経済政策であるアベノミクスの「第４の矢」と言うほど、五輪への期待は極めて大きい。

The economic effects of the Games are estimated at ¥3 trillion, and 150,000 jobs will be created.
　経済効果は３兆円に上り、１５万人の雇用を生むと試算されている。

The Olympics will certainly generate a ripple effect that reaches various sectors, including the construction industry, which will build Games-related facilities, and tourism and real estate. The share prices of “Olympics-related” companies have shown signs of rising since the IOC’s decision.
　確かに、施設整備を担う建設業をはじめ、観光や不動産業など、様々な分野に効果が波及しよう。こうした「五輪関連銘柄」の株価は上昇傾向を見せている。

We hope hosting the Games will reinvigorate not only Tokyo, but also areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nation as a whole.
　五輪開催を東京だけでなく、東日本大震災の被災地、さらに日本全体の活性化につなげたい。

It is also necessary to steadily promote environmentally conscious construction projects, including the use of renewable energy to power facilities for major events and large greenery projects in the Tokyo Bay area.
　主要競技場の電力に再生可能エネルギーを使用することや、湾岸部などの大規模な緑化事業など、環境に配慮した整備計画も着実に進める必要がある。

As Tokyo prepares to hold the Paralympics, it is important to promote efforts to make the city barrier-free and easier to get around for people with disabilities.
　パラリンピックの開催に備え、街のバリアフリー化を一層、推進することも大切だ。

Strategic athlete development
　◆戦略的な選手強化を◆

Excellent performances by Japanese athletes will be crucial for making the Games sizzle.
　五輪が盛り上がるためには、日本選手の活躍が欠かせない。

The leading athletes in seven years are more than likely now middle or high school students. An increasing number of children will undoubtedly put their heart into their favorite sports as they dream of participating in the Games in their home country.
　７年後の主力となるのは、現在の中学生や高校生だろう。自国での五輪出場を夢見て、スポーツに打ち込む子供たちがますます増えるに違いない。

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry and the Japanese Olympic Committee need to strategically development athletes, with the focus on today’s middle and high school students.
　文部科学省や日本オリンピック委員会（ＪＯＣ）は、中高生を中心とした選手の強化に、戦略的に取り組むことが必要だ。

The program at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will feature 28 sports, including wrestling, whose return as an Olympic sport was decided Sunday.
　２０年の東京五輪では、残留が決まったレスリングを含め、２８競技が実施される。

We can hardly wait for the Games to start seven years from now.
　７年後が今から待ち遠しい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10, 2013)
（2013年9月10日01時22分  読売新聞）