The 2020 Summer Olympics will be held in Tokyo, it was announced this afternoon by outgoing IOC president Jacques Rogge. Tokyo beat out Istanbul and Madrid as the other two possible host cities. Tokyo last held the Summer games in 1964. Japan has also twice hosted the Winter Olympics. This means the 2018 and 2020 games will both be held in Asia. The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in PyeongCheng, South Korea.
The 2020 Olympics will be the last games for NBC in its current deal as U.S. rights holder. In 2011, NBC agreed to a $4.38 billion contract with the IOC to broadcast the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Olympics, the most expensive television rights deal in Olympic history.
Jim Bell, the former NBC News “Today” show EP, now the EP of NBC Olympics Tweeted:
Congrats to all the 2020 bid cities. Would have loved any of them. IOC went with safest bet in Tokyo. Another big vote tomorrow…
— Jim Bell (@jfb) September 7, 2013