Tokyo - Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said he is seriously considering joining Tokyo's bid team for the 2016 Olympics at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Copenhagen next month, it was reported Friday. Bid organizers have been urging Hatoyama to join them in Copenhagen for the vote on October 2.
Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda paid Hatoyama a visit at his official residence Friday to request his attendance in Copenhagen.
The Kyodo news agency said Hatoyama told Takeda he "will seriously consider" travelling to Copenhagen with the bid team. Takeda was quoted as saying he believed the prime minister would attend the vote.
Hatoyama, who only took office on Wednesday, has already pledged his support for the Tokyo bid but his office had not previously commented on whether he would make the trip.
Tokyo is bidding with Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 summer Games.
King Juan Carlos of Spain and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are expected to be in Copenhagen, while US First Lady Michelle Obama will also be in the Danish capital to lobby IOC members.
