Tokyo, Japan, has revealed plans to submit a bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, having lost out to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the race to stage the 2016 event.

According to the BBC, governor Shintaro Ishihara confirmed that the Japanese capital city would be putting itself forward following his re-election for a fourth term. The announcement comes amid Japan's efforts to recover from the impact of the recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, which devestated much of the country's east coast.

Ishihara said: "Although they [the 2020 Games] are nine years from now, we can start raising our hand. "If we work hard with hope, it will be a big catalyst for our country's reconstruction and revival."

In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Tokyo was one of three cities to lose out to Rio de Janeiro in the bidding process for the 2016 Games. Countries interested in staging the 2020 Games have been given until 1 September this year to submit the name of prospective host cities, with Cape Town, South Africa, also thought to be in the running.