Tokyo Olympic head says 80% of facilities lined up for 2021

About 80% of the services wanted for subsequent 12 months’s postponed Tokyo Olympics have been lined up, the president of the organizing committee mentioned Friday.

Two of the biggest venues haven’t but been secured, nonetheless.

“For a significant number of facilities, about 80% of them, we have already gained basic approval for their use next year,” Yoshiro Mori mentioned, talking at an government board assembly of the organizing committee. “However, there are also venues that already have reservations for other users next year.”

Organizers are nonetheless working to safe the 5,000-apartment Athletes Village and the Tokyo Big Sight, a hulking conference middle on Tokyo Bay that might be used as the primary press middle. They have mentioned they’re optimistic however work stays.

Pierre Ducrey, the Olympic Games operations director, has referred to as the Athletes Village “problem No. 1.”

Organizers have spoken for weeks about “simplifying” subsequent 12 months’s Olympics to save cash due to the delay brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. But neither Mori nor CEO Toshiro Muto provided particulars on Friday, and nothing on what the delay will value and who can pay.

Muto has talked about “200” targets for downsizing, however provided on names.

The value of the delay in Japan is estimated at $2 billion to $6 billion, with Japanese taxpayers selecting up a lot of the payments. The International Olympic Committee has mentioned it’s going to chip in $650 million, however has not provided specifics.

Other unknowns: Will followers be allowed, will tickets be refunded, will there be a vaccine, and can 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes face quarantines? Organizers say it may very well be many months earlier than the entire define of the Olympics is evident.

The Tokyo Games are set to open on July 23, 2021.

“There is much uncertainty and various observations on what the coronavirus situation will be next summer,” Mori mentioned. “It is too early to speculate and discuss at this point.

“Taking into consideration the new situation economically, socially and medically, we believe that a safe, secure and simple games is the way to go for Tokyo 2020,” Mori added. “While this is what I say now, it may well be the case that by next summer we could be asked for something festive. But at the current moment, in our preparations, we need to take into consideration whether an overly celebratory event will be widely accepted.”

Muto mentioned athletes weren’t prone to face lots of the cuts, with most in non-sports associated fringe areas.

“I wouldn’t say (athletes) they are not subject to the simplification, but we will make sure we are very considerate about the athletes as we open discussions,” Muto mentioned.

Muto mentioned conserving sponsors was a precedence. He mentioned their contracts expire on the finish of the 12 months and greater than half of them are undecided about persevering with.

Tokyo has lined up $3.Three billion in native sponsorship income, no less than twice as a lot as any earlier Olympics. This makes up greater than half the revenue for the privately funded working funds of $5.6 billion.

“They (sponsors) do need to be able to see a commitment form our side that the games will be held next year,” Muto mentioned.

He acknowledged uncertainly stays. Will the Olympics actually occur amid the worldwide pandemic? He mentioned sponsors should be satisfied.

“I don’t think there is anyone that can really promise that the Olympics and Paralympics will be held in 2021 for sure — 100% in any circumstance,” Muto mentioned. “But the fact we can show our commitment and dedication in making sure that we can somehow open the Olympics is something we can do as an organizing committee and as Japan. That is something that can be conveyed to the sponsors.”