They said they had been officially informed of their appointment in a letter sent by Larry Probst, the American who is head of the IOC Press Commission. 

Kyodo News fulfilled the same role at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, the last time Japan hosted the Gmaes. 

The IOC has also asked Kyodo to establish a National Olympic Photo Pool, or NOPP, for Tokyo 2020, which would mean images taken by national press photographers would be distributed through a hub powered to dozens of approved news media outlets within minutes of the action.

Kyodo News revealed on its website today that it had been chosen by the IOC as the host national news agency ©Kyodo News

The host national news agency is normally the biggest wire service in that country.

Kyodo was established in November 1945 following the end of World War Two and distributes news to almost all newspapers, and radio and television networks in Japan.

The newspapers using its news have about 50 million subscribers, it is estimated.

The agency employs over 1,000 journalists and photographers, and maintains news exchange agreements with over 70 international media outlets 

The primary role of Kyodo News as the host national news agency is to guarantee that Japanese athletes competing at the Games receive comprehensive media coverage in their own country. 

The Press Association were was the host national news agency for London 2012
©Getty Images

During London 2012 the host news agency in Britain, Press Association, linked to content across multiple platforms and powered websites such as MSN and the official London 2012 website.

It also translated content in 26 languages to more than 40 countries.

Ria Novosti carried out the role at Sochi 2014 but, on the eve of the Games, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that it was to be closed down afterwards.

A new national news agency, Rossiya Segodnya, is currently in the process of being established.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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