The much-anticipated IOC 2020 Evaluation Commission Report, which was made public on Tuesday, shines the spotlight on the strengths and weaknesses of the three candidate cities.
Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul now have a little more than two months to find ways to increase support for their Olympic bids, especially outside of their respective countries and regions, and persuade IOC voters to select their city for the quadrennial global extravaganza.
Tokyo has been labeled the safe pick. Led by Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda, who also serves as the president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid Committee, the bid has demonstrated meticulous preparation and focused on showcasing a "compact Games concept" that's buoyed by its steady financial backing ($4.5 billion in a hosting reserve fund) and, as the report noted, "one of the most modern and efficient transportation systems in the world."