For cyclist Kazunari Watanabe, medals are only part his aim for the London Olympics next month.<br/> <br />As one of the victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the 28-year-old wants to devote an Olympic campaign to his hometown - still a ghost town in a no-go area around the crippled plant.<br/> <br />The earthquake and subsequent tsunami which destroyed parts of the Japanese coastline last year left the Fukushima plant spewing radiation.<br/> <br />Watanabe's family were forced to leave their home just over three kilometres away.<br/> <br />14 months on the cyclist says the crisis is still affecting lives.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: MEMBER OF JAPAN'S NATIONAL CYCLE TEAM FOR LONDON OLYMPICS, KAZUNARI WATANABE SAYING (Japanese):<br/> <br />"Fukushima hasn't yet fully recovered, and with my races I want to remind the people around the world that the disaster is still on-going. I hope I can help to bring the attention back with a good result in the Olympic Games."<br/> <br />The Japanese government estimates almost a third of residents now living outside the nuclear zone will not be able to return home within the next five years.<br/> <br />For Watanabe, the disaster has bought focus to his training.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: MEMBER OF JAPAN'S NATIONAL CYCLE TEAM FOR LONDON OLYMPICS, KAZUNARI WATANABE, SAYING (Japanese):<br/> <br />"I'll continue putting my best effort into my races, because I believe my competition gives courage and comfort to the people suffering from the nuclear disaster."<br/> <br />During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Watanabe says his hometown celebrated as he helped secure a sixth-place finish in the team sprint event.<br/> <br />This year, he hopes his races will bring new hope to those still suffering.<br/> <br />Sarah Charlton, Reuters
