TOKYO AFP: Tokyo promised a high-tech Olympics complete with robots as it marked a year to go until the 2020 Games on Wednesday, hoping to leave behind some bumps in the road including an ongoing corruption investigation.
Organisers have battled everything from fears over deadly heat to persistent questions about the cost of the Games and how Tokyo won its bid.
“I can truly say I have never seen an Olympic city as prepared as Tokyo, with one year to go before the Olympic games,” said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach at a ceremony Wednesday.
“All the elements that make a truly outstanding Olympic Games are in place,” he added, predicting “an amazing experience” for athletes.
Officials pointed to “unprecedented” ticket sales and applications by 200,000 people for just 80,000 volunteer positions as evidence of building excitement for the Games.