Japanese parliament leader extends good wishes to Beijing Olympics
16/7/2008 17:45
The Japanese people are looking forward to the Beijing Olympics and wish
the games a great success, Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono
said in a recent interview with Chinese correspondents at his official
residence.
Many Japanese are expecting the Beijing Olympics' success, because
the Games is not only for China, but also for Asia as well, Kono said.
"One
of the major factors behind Japanese people's enthusiasm for the Beijing
Olympics is that the only one-hour time difference will allow them to watch the
Games easily," said Kono, who is also chairman of a Japanese parliamentary
members' league aimed at supporting the Beijing Games.
About his initiative
to establish the league, Kono said he intended to show most Japanese people's
support for the Games in a perceptible form.
In line with its expectation,
the league attracted the largest number of participants among all groups in the
Japanese parliament, he added.
Kono said he believed that the Olympic Games
will not only change the world's attitude toward China, but also benefits the
Chinese society. "China will be more self-confident by hosting the 2008 Beijing
Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo."
About Chinese audience's performance on
the stand, Kono hoped that they cheer for foreign teams as well to exhibit the
spirit of friendship.
"Foreign players would collapse spiritually if more
than one billion Chinese only cheer for their own teams," Kono said with a bit
humor.
Kono said he is confident that "the Beijing Olympics would be
wonderful." Although his schedule is tight for August, Kono said he will go to
Beijing to support Japanese players, especially track-and-field players, as he
himself is chairman of the Japan Association of Athletic
Federations.
Xinhua
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