HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) The city of Hiroshima may propose in its forthcoming draft plan to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics that the games open on the Aug. 6 anniversary of the city's atomic bombing, according to sources.
They said Hiroshima officials are expected to finish putting together the draft package this month and decide by the end of the year whether to announce a bid.
A widely supported idea had been to inaugurate the games on Aug. 7, the day after the city holds its annual peace memorial ceremony, with world leaders attending.
Sports officials are now proposing Aug. 6, because holding the opening ceremony on the atomic bombing day would signal a message of a "peace Olympic Games" to the world, the sources said.
The draft plan centers on using temporary sports facilities as Olympic venues to cut down on costs, the sources said.