Osaka 2008 (Japanese: 大阪2008) was one of the five short-listed bids for the 2008 Games, presented by the city of Osaka, Japan.The city won its right to represent Japan over Yokohama when chosen by the Japanese Olympic Committee.
The IOC Evaluation Commission Report from May 15, 2001, said that "a combination of excellent venues and a proven ability within the country to organize major multi-sport events would provide a good basis for the hosting of an Olympic Games".
The Report praised the fact that many facilities have already been completed on Maishima Island and are open for public use. The Olympic Stadium and The Olympic Indoor Swimming Pool would be constructed on the island to serve as a stage for world-class athletic competition. The Olympic Village was planned to be constructed on Yumeshima, man-made island only 400 metres from Maishima. It was considered a secure location, surrounded by the sea with a green wooded landscape, which would enable athletes to relax in comfort. Most sport venues were within 20 kilometres of the Olympic Village.
However, potential transport congestion was a consideration. Concerns existed about the financial implications for the city of the scale of the infrastructure and Games project, making delivery of the Games plans more difficult.The commission was "not confident that this issue could be satisfactorily addressed."[1]
Osaka was eliminated in the first round of the ballot to select a host city at the 113th IOC meeting in July 2001 in Moscow, Russia. Japan had not hosted the Summer Olympic Games until Tokyo was later chosen to host the 2020 Summer Olympics in September 2013.
The proposed venues concept comprised:[2]
Existing:
Planned:
Additional: