Olympics-Dispassionate Tokyo banks on compact 2016 Games plan

COPENHAGEN Oct 1 (Reuters) - Tokyo will offer a once-in-a-lifetime Games, putting athletes at the heart of its compact bid to host the 2016 Olympics, bid officials said on Thursday.

The Japanese capital, which hosted the Games in 1964, is up against Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote on the host of the 2016 summer Games on Friday.

"They (Tokyo Games) have been designed by athletes for athletes," said Mikako Kotani, a 1988 Seoul Games bronze medallist in synchronised swimming and head of the bid's athletes commission.

"Ninety-seven percent of venues are within an 8-kilometre radius of the stadium and the athletes village. Seventy percent of athletes are less than 10 minutes from their venues."

The compact Tokyo bid has won praise from IOC officials, including in the IOC evaluation report published earlier this month.

"The athletes will be at the heart of city life, safe and secure. This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer for the Olympic movement," Kotani said at the final news conference before the vote.

New Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, speaking to reporters in Tokyo before leaving for the Danish capital, said a second Tokyo Games would be very different from the first one.

"We have a new thinking and philosophy about bringing the Olympic Games to Tokyo, which is an eco-friendly and the safest city in the world. I would like to make an appeal on that," he said.

"Even though it would be the second time (that Tokyo hosts the Olympics), it would be different from the first time. I would like to send a message to welcome everyone from the world to see the new and different Tokyo.

"According to rumours, Rio seems to be leading. But nothing is certain and if any city is leading, we want to catch up and overtake it."

BIG NAMES

The bid has also scored points for already securing $4 billion in funds but officials have been criticised for failing to match the passion in their presentations in the Danish capital that other candidates have shown.

"We realise that the others will have big names. But the IOC would equally like to have the fantastic Games for athletes," bid leader Ichiro Kono said.

Apart from the four heads of state who will support each of their cities' bids on site, including U.S. President Barack Obama, celebrities and former top athletes have been drafted to help to hammer their message home.

Among others, former soccer player Pele and writer Paolo Coelho have joined the Rio campaign, while TV show host Oprah Winfrey is in town to back Chicago.

"The technical part is a fundamental aspect. We could show more passion and emotion but we have many experiences in hosting mega events and every IOC member understands that," said Kono.

"I am sure we will be able to express ourselves in the right manner (in the final presentation on Friday). I believe we will be successful." (Additional reporting by Yoko Nishikawa in Tokyo; Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)