The city of Sapporo in Japan is refusing to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 due to low public support, as well as corruption surrounding the Tokyo Games, which were held in 2021.
– The move comes amid widespread bribery and bid-rigging scandals surrounding the Tokyo Games held in the summer of 2021 that have soured public sentiment toward hosting the Olympics, – Kyodo news agency reports.
Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto did not comment on the reports. He is going to meet with the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Yasuhiro Yamashita, on October 11.
In Japan, 15 people have been charged in a corruption case surrounding the Tokyo Olympics. In May, former top managers of the Japanese advertising agency ADK Holdings Hisamatsu Shigeharu and Tadu Toshiaki were convicted of bribing former Tokyo 2020 organizing committee member Haruyuki Takahashi.
The USA, Sweden, Switzerland and France also want to host the 2030 Olympics.
