Tokyo To Try New Governor On Path To 2020 Olympics

TOKYO, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th july,2016) - Tokyo votes Sunday for a new governor who will have to get gaffe-plagued preparations for the 2020 Olympics back on track and avoid spending scandals that forced the last two incumbents to quit. The major task facing the new chief administrator of the sprawling metropolis of 13.6 million -- who will be elected Sunday for a four-year term -- is managing the run-up to the troubled Olympics. Leading candidates are all promising to run a clean ship, skillfully helm an economy the size of Indonesia's, tackle dire childcare shortages and prepare for a possible major earthquake that could hit Japan's capital anytime. But their handling of the Olympics is key, with Tokyo's next leader facing swelling costs for sport's marquee event, possibly double or triple the reported original forecast of 730 billion Yen ($6.

92 billion). "The Olympics and its budget will be a major challenge," said Muneyuki Shindo, an emeritus political science professor at Chiba University. The 2020 Games have already been marred by a series of embarrassments, the latest being the resignation as governor of Yoichi Masuzoe, who quit over spending public money on lavish hotels and spa trips. His abrupt resignation wrongfooted the political class, Shindo said, meaning the current field of candidates is subpar as a result. "The race itself is taking place in such a short period of time, and I don't think major parties were able to give thorough consideration to the fielding of their candidates."