Japan’s new prime minister Yoshihide Suga insists the Tokyo Olympics will take place next year as “proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic.”
Tokyo 2020 was postponed in March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and there are ongoing doubts that the rescheduled Games will go ahead in July 2021.
Surveys have shown that a majority of Japanese companies and public don’t think the Olympics will or should happen next year.
Photo Courtesy: Tokyo 2020
But Suga said in a prerecorded speech at the UN General Assembly that he will “spare no effort in order to welcome you to Games that are safe and secure.”
Suga’s words came hours after Tokyo 2020 organisers announced several “simplification” changes although few would make significant financial savings.
The International Olympic Committee and local organisers pledged to reduce costs following the postponement which has been estimated to cost several billion dollars which will be borne by local taxpayers.
They had talked about 200 items being potentially cut but at the moment have settled on 50.
Some of the simplications include: reduce the number of officials from National Olympic Committees and sporting organisations by 10-15%, cancelling a portion of an IOC meeting before the Olympics, shortening the main press centre availability by eight days, reviewing transportation for stakeholders; cancelling the welcome ceremony at the Olympic Village, toning down the overall look of the venues and Olympic Village and reducing office space by 14%.
Officials repeated that no cuts would be made to athlete numbers — 11,000 for the Olympics and 4,400 for the Paralympic Games — nor the number of events.
Other items unlikely to be cut include the 121-day torch relay, which is sponsored by Coca-Cola and Toyota, while the opening and closing ceremonies are unlikely to be affected.
Yoshiro Mori, the president of the organising committee, admitted at the end of two days of online meetings with IOC officials that “it’s like a glass half-filled or half empty”.
He said major cuts were difficult because of IOC contracts that were already in place with broadcasters and other stakeholders.
IOC vice president John Coates, who oversees Tokyo preparations, said some rule changes will have to be made for athletes who test positive for COVID-19 in Tokyo.
He said:
“If an athlete tests positive for COVID, then there has to be a provision to take that athlete out of the Games in the same way — not the same stigma, but in the same way we replace athletes with doping problems.
“And if we get a vaccine, there will be agreements that they (athletes) will accept vaccines.”
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