Japan's Olympics Minister believes Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 Olympics was fair, despite fresh allegations of bribery. French prosecutors on Thursday said $2 million associated with Tokyo's bid was apparently paid to an account linked to the son of the disgraced former IAAF president Lamine Diack in the months immediately before and after Tokyo won the games. Toshiaki Endo said Friday he was proud Tokyo's bid ''was seen to have been conducted in the fairest manner among all the candidate cities. So I believe there was no such thing (as the payments) and I believe there couldn't be.'' Tokyo organizers said they have no knowledge of such payments and the city won the rights to host the games because it presented the best bid. Meanwhile, the Japan Sports Agency - established to increase Japan's international competitiveness and improve athlete support for the Tokyo Olympics - has asked the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government to investigate the alleged payments. Sports Minister Hiroshi Hase said at a press conference on Friday, ''We will cooperate in full, and wish for a thorough examination.'' When asked about the payments, Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe said ''Tokyo Metropolitan Government had not put any public money into the lobbying.'' (For more sportsnews andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/216729.aspx
