OSAKA -- While Osaka's business community wholeheartedly welcomes the city's victory in becoming Japan's candidate to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, concerns are growing over whether the city has enough international appeal to be chosen by world officials.

Osaka's enthusiasm to beat out Yokohama in the bid was prompted mainly by its desire to revitalize the Kansai region through increasing its presence in the global community.

But both local business and government officials in Osaka say the bigger challenge will come in 2001 when international candidate sites compete.