The stark message came as Tokyo today announced its first group of official bid partners and unveiled an updated logo (pictured top), following the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include the city on its shortlist of those bidding for the Olympics and Paralympics to be held in eight years' time.

The emblem combines an arrangement of cherry blossoms, Japan's most celebrated flower, with the five Olympic rings and the phrase Candidate City.

Only Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid - the last two also selected cities - have the right to use a Candidate City Emblem until September 7, 2013, when the IOC will select the host city at its Session in Buenos Aires. 

Tokyo is the bookmakers' favourites to host the Olympics for the first time since 1964, a position it must take advantage of, bid leader Tsunekazu Takeda admitted.

"It's our last chance," Takeda told news agency Reuters.

"We'll win.

"We have to win.

"With the rotation of the Olympics it will be many years before Tokyo can go for it again.

"For [our generation] it's the last chance."

The logo was designed by Ai Shimamine, a Japanese student who submitted her idea in a competition.

The winning entry was selected by a panel of judges led by Tokyo 2020 chief executive Masato Mizuno.

The logo symbolises the world united as one, a central aspiration behind the dream of bringing the 2020 Games to Tokyo.

The cherry blossoms combine four of the Olympic colours - red, blue, yellow and green - with purple, a traditional colour featured prominently in festivals and events during Japan's Edo Era, a period of roughly 250 years, between 1603-1867, of peace and stability.

The press conference to unveil the updated logo and the new partners was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and was attended by distinguished members of the Bid Committee delegation; it was led by Takeda and Mizuno, who had returned from the SportAccord Convention in Quebec City, Canada, where Tokyo 2020 was officially announced as a Candidate City last Wednesday (May 23).


"After a truly amazing experience in Quebec City, it now is a wonderful feeling to share the honour and excitement of Tokyo's Candidate City selection with the entire nation," said Takeda.

"The IOC's approval of our Candidate City Emblem is a symbolic milestone in our journey to host the 2020 Games and deliver an unforgettable Games plan fully integrated with Tokyo, its people and their future."

This is Tokyo's second consecutive bid having lost out on 2016 to Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro.

"We have a better bid this time," Takeda (pictured below, centre) told Reuters.



"We have kept the best components and improved all other areas.

"We have the experience and we're very confident."

Athletes from the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) Elite Academy, including its captain, table tennis player Yui Sato, helped to unveil the emblem.

"I am so excited to be part of this event," said Sato.

"It would be fantastic if Tokyo wins the honour of hosting the 2020 Games.

"I want to represent my country and inspire millions of people across the nation, as other athletes have inspired me throughout my life."

The partners included the ASICS Corporation, one of the world's biggest sportswear companies.

They were announced alongside Descente Ltd, another major sportswear company, and travel companies JTB Corp and the Kinki Nippon Tourist Co.

"The Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee principle, 'to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport', corresponds with our principle 'to build a world of smiling faces by creating memorable experiences and encounters for people around the globe'," said Katsuhisa Yoshikawa, the chief executive of Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. 

"We will help to revitalise Japan from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and we will promote our activities together, not only as a tourist agency but also as a leader in the industry, by gathering our wisdom to help support the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee."

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