Letter of Request to IOC President Bach

July 28, 2021

Dr. Thomas Bach
President
International Olympic Committee

Dear Dr. Bach:

Greetings from the City of Hiroshima. Before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, you visited the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima and learned about the realities of the bombing. You also gave the following statement about the Tokyo Games, saying that they “will be a beacon of hope for a better and more peaceful world.”

In this spirit, it is my hope that we could also find a way to have the Olympic athletes and related staff members touch upon the realities of what happened in Hiroshima. In lieu of traveling to Hiroshima, which would be difficult to do from Tokyo during the games, I wondered if you might ask everyone to participate in a moment of silence where they stand at 8:15 am on August 6 and join us in spirit at the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima.

I am well aware that your duties at the Olympic Games must keep you quite busy, but I ask for your sincere consideration of my proposal.

In closing, I offer my heartfelt prayers for the success of the Tokyo Olympics and for your continued health and prosperity.

Sincerely yours,

MATSUI Kazumi
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima

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