Tokyo’s 2020 ambitions were dealt a severe blow by the March 11 natural disaster, which also triggered a nuclear meltdown at a power plant 240-km (150 miles) north of the city.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to officially announce that we will bid to host the 2020 Olympics,” JOC president Tsunekazu Takeda said during a symposium to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the JOC.

“Yesterday (Friday), we received a formal letter of intent from Gov. (Shintaro) Ishihara which was officially accepted at our board meeting earlier today.”

Tokyo, which hosted Asia’s first Olympics in 1964, lost out to Rio de Janeiro in the race to host the 2016 Games and was expected to announce its candidature for the 2020 gathering.

“The last time we hosted the Olympics, we were able to show the world how much we had recovered from disaster,” Takeda said, referring to the country’s recovery from the second World War.

“We want to make this event a similar symbol of recovery from the major disasters we have suffered. We will devote ourselves to the cause of bringing the Olympics back to Tokyo.”

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, who was present during the announcement, wished Japan well.

“Thank you for this wonderful day. Today, we had excellent news about the plans for the candidature of the 2020 Games,” Rogge said.

“The IOC is extremely happy to receive this candidature and wishes Tokyo good luck.

“The JOC, the IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia have joined forces to bring the healing power of sport to those who are reconstructing their lives.”

Tokyo governor Ishihara said it was crucial for JOC to win the bid to help Japan rebuild again.

“I spoke with the three governors worst hit in the quake, and they insisted we do it,” Ishihara said.

“I was a little unsure if it was the right time to talk sports to them, but I wanted a feel for how their people felt about it.

“It’s nine years away, but if the country isn’t rebuilt by then, Japan will just sink. We have to rebuild Japan and make it an even better country and I think the Olympics can play a role in it.”

Ishihara said the JOC needed to get their hands bloody if necessary to win the bid.

“People are saying this and that about Korea’s impact, but you just have to go out there and do it,” he said, referring to Pyeongchang winning the bid for 2018 Winter Games last week.

“Now the wheels are in motion but the JOC has got to come through. There’s no room for whining. As long as we’re going into this, we’ve got to win... even if it means getting blood on our hands.

“I learned a lot from the last experience and it’s not just what you see on the surface.”

Rome and Madrid have already announced their plans to bid for 2020, while Istanbul and Doha are also reportedly considering entering the race, the winner of which will be chosen in Buenos Aires in Sept. 2013.