Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe smiles as he reports to his cabinet members Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics at the IOC meeting after returning from Buenos Aires, Argentina, during a cabinet meeting at th
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe smiles as he reports to his cabinet members Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics at the IOC meeting after returning from Buenos Aires, Argentina, during a cabinet meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo in this September 10, 2013 file photo. To match Special Report JAPAN-LABOR/ REUTERS/Itsuo Inouye/Pool/Files REUTERS/Itsuo Inouye/Pool/File

Itching to show the world it has started its road to recovery from the 2011 nuclear disaster, Japan's north-eastern Fukushima prefecture said it wants to host some of the preliminary events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Kyodo News on Tuesday reported Masao Uchibori, the governor of the north-eastern prefecture, has talked with the governor of Tokyo, Yoichi Masuzoe, about the matter. Uchibori's intention is to show the world "how much Fukushima has recovered."

It wasn't clear what exactly type of games or events the radiation-riddled Fukushima prefecture can handle. Uchibori did say the prefecture already has existing facilities that can be used for the preliminary events. Reuters believed that if approved, Fukushima can host the soccer matches.

The Fukushima prefecture's desire to be part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was taken positively by Masuzoe. "The Olympics is meant to show to the world the Tohoku region's reconstruction. We want to cooperate as much as possible," he said.

In September 2013, Tokyo won the bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics at the 125th session of the International Olympic Committee. The games will be held from July 24 to Aug 9, 2020, while the Paralympic Games would be from Aug 25 to Sept 6.

Japan was hit by a 9.0 earthquake in March 2011 that set off a subsequent tsunami. The tsunami whammed into the north-eastern Fukushima prefecture and slammed its nuclear power plant, causing a number of explosions. The earthquake claimed over 15,000 lives. The complete recovery of the region from the effects of the nuclear disaster is expected to take up to 40 years.

Some 400 tonnes of untainted groundwater are believed to be seeping into the Fukushima plant buildings every day. They mix with the toxic water generated in the process of cooling the crippled reactors. The radioactive groundwater is collected by TEPCO and is stored at the site of the plant.

Prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host the 2016 Summer Olympics. The games will open on Aug 5, 2016 and the closing ceremony will be on Aug 21, 2016.