TOKYO, Nov 27: Tokyo’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics has gained support from other major Asian cities, the capital’s vice governor said on Thursday.

Kenji Tanigawa told a seminar with Tokyo-based foreign diplomats that support was expressed at a general meeting of the Asian Network of Major Cities (ANMC) in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.“All the participating cities have agreed to provide support for Tokyo in its bidding processes,” he said.He added that wide-ranging support in Japan and abroad would help Tokyo to press ahead with a more effective bidding campaign.

Top administrators from eight cities, including Tokyo, Seoul, Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta, attended the meeting.Tokyo, which last hosted the games in 1964, is bidding for its second Summer Olympics against Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose the 2016 host city at a meeting in Copenhagen in October 2009.—AFP