Huge crowds greet Japan's Olympic athletes

Kyodo News via AP

People pack the central intersection of Tokyo's Ginza shopping district as Japanese Olympic medalists and athletes who competed in the London Games aboard double-decker buses parade through the main street Monday, Aug. 20.

Jiji Press / AFP - Getty Images

Japan's women's badminton doubles silver medallists Mizuki Fujii, left, and Reika Kakiiwa, wave to the crowds from an open-top bus during a parade for Japan's 2012 London Olympic Games medallists in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district on Aug. 20.

The Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) held the first ever Olympic medallists parade hoping it will boost the city's bid to host the 2020 Summer Games.   

Reuters reports: Japan's Olympic medallists brought downtown Tokyo to a standstill on Monday in an open-top bus victory parade witnessed by around 500,000 flag and fan-waving supporters.

The convoy of five buses caused gridlock as fans and shoppers in Tokyo's upmarket Ginza district help celebrate Japan's record haul of 38 medals (seven gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze) at the London Olympics. Full story.

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Discuss this post

Woow this is great for Tokyo has got 500,000 supporters and yeah...they should get 900,000 supporters and should beat Istanbul and Madrid's fans lol

    Reply#1 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:02 PM EDT

    このNBCの空撮はすごいな・・

    こうやってみるとRangersやCowboysのパレードに匹敵するかも。

      Reply#2 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:41 PM EDT
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