(Xinhua) 17:02, October 11, 2023 TOKYO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The northern Japanese city of Sapporo on Wednesday confirmed its withdrawal from the bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The announcement was made by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and the city of Sapporo at a joint press conference held in Tokyo, which was attended by both JOC President Yasuhiro Yamashita and Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto. They confirmed that the city will withdraw from the bidding and seek to host the event in 2034 or later. Sapporo, which in 2014 announced its bid for the 2030 Games, is facing sluggish support and growing public distrust over the bribery and bid-rigging scandals connected to the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021. Having hosted the Games in 1972, Sapporo was once considered the front-runner to host the Winter Olympics for a second time. But the International Olympic Committee appears to have shifted its focus to other candidates after the scandals linked to the Tokyo Olympics, said local media. |
Chicago White Sox promote rightMcLaughlin wins 2nd straight at Barber, putting happy ending on rough week for Team PenskeHawaii military family sues over jet fuel leak into Navy water systemUnited Auto Workers reaches deal with Daimler Truck, averting potential strike in North CarolinaOklahoma tornadoes kill 4; state of emergency issued amid damagePope visits Venice to speak to the artists and inmates behind the Biennale's mustTaijuan Walker makes a slick behindBournemouth moves into top half of the Premier League after 3Katie Price 'tries to fool fans with preNuggets, Thunder have chances to move into Round 2, and Boston seeks 3