Premier Baird invites Tokyo 2020 organisers to showcase Sydney’s Olympic Legacy

19 May 2015

The legacy of the 2000 Sydney Olympics lives on with the Tokyo Government expressing an interest to collaborate with the NSW Government as Tokyo prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the 2020 Olympic Games.

NSW Premier Mike Baird today met with the Governor of Tokyo Yoichi Masuzoe during his first official visit to Japan as Premier.

“Tokyo and NSW share a sister state relationship that spans 31 years and I look forward to developing closer ties to allow our friendship to flourish,” Mr Baird said.

“I am excited the Olympics will be held in Tokyo in 2020 and I have today expressed to the Governor that the NSW Government would be happy to share knowledge and expertise in planning for a successful Games.

“During our meeting I invited Mr Masuzoe to send a delegation from the Tokyo Government to tour Sydney Olympic Park and meet with our Olympic planning and legacy experts.”

The NSW Government has a proven track record in major event delivery and has been involved in every Olympics since the Sydney Games.

The offer to host a Japanese delegation planning the Tokyo Olympics was made during productive talks about progressing the NSW-Tokyo sister state relationship.

Mr Baird and Mr Masuzoe today agreed that NSW and Tokyo would increase collaboration in the following three areas:

•           Olympic Games expertise

•           Education

•           Sustainable cities