olympics

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More than 100,000 signatures collected against Fukuoka City's bid to host Olympics

Fukuoka City residents' Association against Fukuoka City's Bid for the 2016 Olympic Games announced on May 23 that since March it has collected more than 100,000 signatures in opposition to the bid.

At a press conference in the city office, Association Representative Ando Takeshi said, "The signature campaign has become a great opportunity to show the residents' clear opposition to Mayor Yamasaki Hirotaro's attempt to use Olympics as an excuse to promote urban development in disregard of residents' opinions' at a time when a project to construct an artificial island in Hakata Bay is threatening measures for living and welfare of residents."

Ninomiya Machiko, an Association representative and New Japan Women's Association Fukuoka Prefectural head, stated, "Women are increasing their criticism of the city planning to spend enormous amounts of tax money on the Olympics while refusing their requests to build children's centers or to reduce class sizes to 30 or less students on the grounds that the city faces financial difficulties."

Ando made public that the Association will carry out a campaign to call on residents to send postcards to the Japan Olympic Committee requesting the Committee to oppose the city's bid.

Japanese Communist Party Fukuoka City Assembly members are opposed to the city's bid to host the Olympics on the grounds that it is a wasteful use of tax money leading to environmental destruction. The JCP district committee and branches have been actively participating in the Association's campaign to collect the signatures.
- Akahata, May 24, 2006