The head of sports affairs in Sapporo says bidding for the 2026 Olympics has special meaning for Japan's northern city."Winter sports have become popular in Asia with more people participating, so (hosting the games) will lead to a surge in inbound tourists. The city is aiming to become a hub for sports in Asia," Toshiya Ishikawa, the director general of the city's sports affairs bureau, said in a recent interview with Kyodo News.Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee announced five other cities and one united effort by three Italian cities had expressed an interest in host…READ FULL ARTICLE
