Japan’s bid to host the most environmentally sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games ever at the heart of its dynamic capital – today announced its full support for the COP15 Cycling Tour. As part of this effort, Japanese cycling legend and Athens 2004 silver medallist, Tomohiro Nagatsuka, participated in the tour’s kickoff event to demonstrate Tokyo 2016‘s commitment to the goals of this important undertaking.
In association with COP15 – the 15th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the series of cycling events will help spread the conference’s message of environmental responsibility through sustainable activities such as cycling. COP15 Cycling Tour events are being hosted across Japan and in Copenhagen (link here for COP15 in Copenhagen) – the Danish capital and the host of the 121st IOC Session, which will elect the host of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Spearheaded by the Embassy of Denmark in Japan under the leadership of His Excellency Ambassador Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, an ardent supporter of Tokyo 2016, the COP15 Cycling Tour – a carbon neutral undertaking – will carry its message to nine major Japanese cities. Having begun in Tokyo on 23 May, the Japan program will end on 31 May in Kyoto – the city in which the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change was signed in 1997.
Danish Ambassador to Japan Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin said: “I think it’s wonderful that so many people joined us for today’s tour. I had a great ride around Tokyo and hope that the environment ultimately benefits from our effort. Denmark and Japan are the two most energy efficient countries in the world.
“I firmly believe that Tokyo and Japan should have the Olympic Games and I promise that I will take this message back to Denmark and try to convince them of Tokyo’s advantages.”
After travelling across Japan, the tour will arrive at its final destination on 14 June in Copenhagen, where the UNFCCC is seeking to establish a new global climate agreement during the COP15 conference later this year. Tokyo 2016 – which plans to host the first carbon-minus Olympic and Paralympic Games – is also fully supportive of this critical aim.
The ten cities hosting COP 15 Cycling Tour events are:
– Tokyo, 23 May
– Anjo City, 24 May
– Fukushima, 25 May
– Sapporo, 26 May
– Miyazaki, 28t May
– Hiroshima, 29 May
– Imabari/Shimanami, 30 May
– Wakayama, 31 May
– Kyoto, 31 May
– Copenhagen, 14 June
Athens 2004 silver medallist Tomohiro Nagatsuka said: “I would like to act as a role model and raise awareness of environmental issues. Furthermore, I hope this event helps more people in Japan understand the positive impact bicycles have on both the environment and on our health. I hope to see the day when people choose to commute by bicycle and exercise by riding instead of running.
“As the first-ever carbon-minus Olympic Games, Tokyo 2016’s plan reflects the city’s awareness of the need to protect our environment. I hope the COP15 Cycling Tour will use the bicycle to raise environmental awareness in Japan to an even higher level.”
Tokyo 2016 Chair and CEO Dr Ichiro Kono said: “Tokyo 2016 fully supports the COP15 Cycling Tour as well as the aims of the COP15 Conference. I am extremely grateful to our Danish friends for organizing such an innovative way to encourage people to make changes to their daily lives to combat climate change.
“Tokyo 2016 is inspired by COP15’s efforts to tackle environmental degradation and is committed to delivering a Games that is a critical part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s 10-year Project for a Carbon-Minus Tokyo.”
Cycling, a key Olympic and Paralympic sport, will be staged in excellent, sustainable facilities at Tokyo 2016. BMX and Mountain Bike events will be held at the Sea Forest Cycle Sports Course, built on a reclaimed site along Tokyo Bay that is being richly forested. Track Cycling will take place at the Seaside Park Velodrome, a temporary cycling track made with renewable resources. Road Cycling will use the Imperial Palace Garden for its start and finish points, where cyclists will race among large urban parklands before following tree-lined streets to the Tama Hills midway point.
