Japan welcomes IOC chief for Tokyo visit

TOKYO, (AFP) -- The head of the committee tasked with evaluating bids for the 2020 Olympic games arrived in Japan on Friday as Tokyo readied to showcase its facilities.

International Olympic Committee Vice President Craig Reedie, who leads the Evaluation Commission, was met by Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose ahead of the four-day inspection, which starts Monday.

"Just welcomed 2020 Evaluation Commission Chairman Sir Craig Reedie to Tokyo. The race for the 2020 games is now in full gear #Tokyo2020," Tweeted Inose.

Commissioners head to Madrid and Istanbul, which are also bidding to host the 2020 Games, later this month.

The successful host city will be announced at an IOC session in Argentina in September.

Inose said he was sure his Olympic visitors would be impressed by what the Japanese capital had to offer.

"I told (Reedie) what an enormous success the London Olympics was," Inose said, according to Kyodo News. "We will provide them with the kind of hospitality only a city like Tokyo can give them."