Tokyo put numbers before celebrity power for Olympics

By Alastair Himmer

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's bid leaders said on Saturday that the city's financial clout and technical know-how gave them an edge in the race to host the 2016 Olympics.

Barack Obama's landslide victory in the United States presidential election last November was seen to give his home city of Chicago a major boost.

Tokyo officials have dismissed the Obama factor, insisting celebrity power would not sway the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Copenhagen on Oct. 2.

"Our bid is not based around one hero or one celebrity," Tokyo 2016's deputy director general Hidetoshi Maki told Reuters.

"Tokyo's strength comes from its venues, the city and the people, from Prime Minister (Taro) Aso to the person who makes sure the bus runs on time."

Former British prime minister Tony Blair and England soccer player David Beckham had an active role in London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Games.

"We have time to think about who will be the 'face' for Tokyo's bid," said Maki. "But we will have big names of our own presenting our case to the IOC."

The IOC's evaluation team, led by Moroccan Nawal El Moutawakel, are currently in Tokyo inspecting the city's venues.