Ishihara wants Tokyo to bid for 2020 Olympics

TOKYO – Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara says he wants the Japanese capital to bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Ishihara said in a speech Friday at a regular session of the Tokyo metropolitan assembly: "I want this to be considered. I hope Japan will be united in this effort."

Ishihara was the driving force behind Tokyo's failed bid to host the 2016 Games.

National Olympic committees have until Sept. 1 to submit bids for the 2020 Games. So far, only Rome has formally announced it will bid.

Ishihara said a bid by Tokyo could go a long way toward helping Japan rebuild from the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March.