Tokyo wins bid to host 2020 Summer Olympics

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, fourth from left, and Tokyo’s Governor Naoki Inose, third from left, celebrate with other members of the Tokyo delegation after the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge announced that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympic Games during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Ian Watson, Pool)

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, Governor of Tokyo and Chairman of Tokyo 2020, Naoki Inose, second from left, and other members of the Japanese delegation celebrate as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announces that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympic Games during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Ian Watson, Pool)

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Members of the Tokyo 2020 delegation celebrate after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympic Games during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

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Japanese supporters of the Tokyo Bid 2020 team celebrate in Tokyo early Sunday morning, Sept. 8, 2013, upon learning Tokyo won the bid to host the 2020 Olympics at the IOC voting as they watch a live broadcast from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tokyo competed with Madrid, Istanbul for the right to host the 2020 games. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

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Japanese Olympians celebrate with Tokyo Municipal Government officials in Tokyo early Sunday morning, Sept. 8, 2013, upon learning Tokyo won the bid to host the 2020 Olympics at the IOC voting as they watch a live broadcast from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tokyo competed with Madrid, Istanbul for the right to host the 2020 games. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

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Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and and Princess Letizia leave after Madrid’s 2020 final presentation in 125 IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Madrid has been eliminated as a host city for the 2020 Olympics, leaving Tokyo and Istanbul to advance to the final round. Madrid initially tied with Istanbul as an also-ran in the voting by the International Olympic Committee. Istanbul won the tiebreak vote 49-45. The winner will now be determined in a second-round vote between the Japanese and Turkish cities.(AP Photo/Ivan Fernandez)

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ALTERNATIVE CROP OF EDB131 - Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addresses the International Olympic Committee session during Tokyo’s 2020 bid presentation, before the announcement of the final vote, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo won the bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, second from right, and other members of the Japanese delegation celebrate as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announces that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympic Games during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Ian Watson, Pool)

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A member of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, holds the envelop containing the name of the city to be awarded the 2020 Summer Olympic Games during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, celebrates wih members of his delegation after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympic Games during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final voting round. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, talks with International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge after the signing the Host City Contract in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko))

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge smile after signing the Host City Contract after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Victor Caivano)

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, shakes hands with President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge as Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda stands by after signing the Host City Contract for the 2020 Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tokyo defeated Istanbul in the final round of secret voting Saturday by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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A man reacts covering his face with a Spanish flag as he gathers next to others in front of big screens at Puerta de Alcala in Madrid, Spain Saturday Sept. 7, 2013. Madrid has been eliminated as a host city for the 2020 Olympics, leaving Tokyo and Istanbul to advance to the final round. Madrid initially tied with Istanbul as an also-ran in the voting by the International Olympic Committee. Istanbul won the tiebreak vote 49-45. The winner will now be determined in a second-round vote between the Japanese and Turkish cities. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

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A child reacts as people gather in front of big screens at Puerta de Alcala in Madrid, Spain Saturday Sept. 7, 2013. Madrid has been eliminated as a host city for the 2020 Olympics, leaving Tokyo and Istanbul to advance to the final round. Madrid initially tied with Istanbul as an also-ran in the voting by the International Olympic Committee. Istanbul won the tiebreak vote 49-45. The winner will now be determined in a second-round vote between the Japanese and Turkish cities. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

By Stephen Wilson

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The International Olympic Committee went for a familiar, trusted host, selecting Tokyo for the 2020 Games and signaling that playing it safe was preferable to more risky picks like Sochi and Rio.

With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reassuring IOC members on the Fukushima nuclear crisis, Tokyo defeated Istanbul 60-36 Saturday in the final round of secret voting. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul.

Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, billed itself as the “safe pair of hands” at a time of global political and economic turmoil — a message that clearly resonated with the IOC.

With Madrid’s bid dogged by questions over Spain’s economic crisis and Istanbul handicapped by political unrest and the civil war in neighboring Syria, Tokyo offered the fewest risks.

“The certainty was a crucial factor — the certainty that they could deliver,” IOC vice president Craig Reedie of Britain said.

The choice of Tokyo bucked the IOC’s recent trend of taking chances on host cities — Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Winter Games, Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics and Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Winter Games.

Preparations for Sochi have been overshadowed by cost overruns, a record $51 billion budget, security worries and an international outcry over Russia’s anti-gay legislation. There are mounting concerns among the IOC over construction delays in Rio.

The IOC’s desire for a reliable, dependable host in 2020 was a crucial factor for Tokyo.

“For better or worse, we picked Sochi followed by Rio followed by Pyeongchang,” Canadian member Dick Pound said. “Maybe we need to say, ‘All right, whether it’s the most exciting city in the world or not, they will deliver.’”

Tokyo had been on the defensive in the final days of the campaign because of mounting concerns over the leak of radioactive water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

In the final presentation, Abe gave the IOC assurances that the Fukushima leak was not a threat to Tokyo and took personal responsibility for keeping the games safe.

“Let me assure you the situation is under control,” Abe said. “It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo.”

Abe gave further assurances when pressed on the issue by Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg.

“It poses no problem whatsoever,” Abe said in Japanese, adding that the contamination was limited to a small area and had been “completely blocked.”

“There are no health-related problems until now, nor will there be in the future,” he said. “I make the statement to you in the most emphatic and unequivocal way.”

IOC members said Abe’s answers were critical and helped dispel any doubts.

“People wanted to hear it and needed to hear it,” Pound said. “And he delivered on that. I think that was a real knockout answer.”

Tokyo Electric Power Co., Fukushima’s operator, has acknowledged that tons of radioactive water has been seeping into the Pacific from the plant for more than two years after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami led to meltdowns at three of its reactors. Recent leaks from tanks storing radioactive water used to cool the reactors have added to fears that the amount of contaminated water is getting out of hand.

Tokyo’s bid benefited from Japan’s large economy and link to Olympic sponsors. Asia offers a huge market for the IOC.

“There are a lot of commercial advantages for the IOC going to a country with the third-biggest GDP,” Australian member John Coates said. “And then compare that to the economic uncertainty facing Spain and the political unrest that Istanbul experienced a few months ago and more particularly the unrest at the Middle East at the moment.

“The IOC, we’ve taken the safe bet.”

Tokyo delegates in the hall screamed with joy, jumped in the air, hugged and waved small flags after Rogge opened a sealed envelope and read the words: “The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing that the games of the 32nd Olympiad in 2020 are awarded to the city of Tokyo.”

Even though it was 5 a.m. Sunday in Japan, about 1,200 dignitaries and Olympic athletes who crowded into a convention hall in downtown Tokyo celebrated the news. Cheers of “Banzai!” filled the hall when the announcement was made.

In Istanbul’s old city, a groan went through a gathering of hundreds of people.

In the first round, Istanbul and Madrid tied with 26 votes each. Tokyo had 42 votes, six short of a winning a majority. Istanbul then beat Madrid 49-45 in a tiebreak to advance to the final, which Tokyo won easily.

After Madrid lost the tiebreak, a deathly hush fell over a crowd that had assembled in the Spanish capital’s Puerta de Alcala square and the music stopped.

“I am in shock,” said Marta Castro, a housewife in the square. “I thought that it was a tiebreaker to see which city won and it turns out that it was to see which lost, and Madrid went out first. How sad! I hadn’t imagined it.”

In their final presentations, Madrid made its case as the least-expensive option and Istanbul spoke of the historic opportunity to bring the Olympics to a predominantly Muslim country for the first time.

Madrid, bidding for a third straight time, had seemed to have gained the most momentum in recent weeks despite Spain’s economic crisis and 27 percent unemployment rate. The Madrid team claimed the games would pose no financial risk because most of the venues were already built.

The Turkish delegation pressed its case of taking the games to a city linking the continents of Europe and Asia.

With the civil war in Syria posing a major issue, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said selecting Turkey “will send a very meaningful and strong message, not only to the world, but to our broader region.”

“At this critical moment, we would like to send a strong message of peace to the whole world from Istanbul,” Erdogan said.

Madrid said 80 percent of its venues were ready and only $1.9 billion was needed for construction, a fraction of the other two bids.

“Madrid has perhaps the most reasonable and responsible financial foundation in recent Olympic history,” Spanish Prime Minster Mariano Rajoy said. “We can host the Olympics in 2020 with no risk to the Olympic movement.”

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AP Sports Writers Stephen Wade and Tales Azzoni in Buenos Aires, James Armstrong in Tokyo, Desmond Butler in Istanbul, and Harold Heckle and Joseph Wilson in Madrid contributed to this report.

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Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap