IOC official issues warning to Tokyo 2020 organizers

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Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been told that confidence in them may be lost if they do not answer questions about preparations.

The message was delivered in the Japanese capital on Monday by John Coates, chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission, at the start of a two-day IOC Project Review meeting.

Coates said there would be no let-up from National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and international sporting federations in the run-up to the Games.

“We enter a phase where questions from stakeholders become very pragmatic and very urgent,” the Australian said.

Officials at the IOC project review meeting in Tokyo on April 23, 2018. /VCG

“I wasn’t at SportAccord but I have read and I know that your delegation experienced this from the international federations that were there, with some very pertinent questions.

“I say this as a friend: you can expect more of this.”

Over 200 NOCs will visit Tokyo in November and Coates expected it to be a challenging time for organizers.

“They are going to want answers and so you have to be prepared to answer these questions when they are raised. If you don’t, these are the sorts of things that can impact the confidence of our stakeholders in your ability to host the Games,” said Coates.

“That is very hard to come back from, once that momentum starts to build.”

The main venue of Tokyo 2020 Olympics under construction. /VCG Photo‍

The Project Review meeting comes following a decision made in December to update the projected budget for Tokyo 2020, involving a reduction of 1.4 billion US dollars in total costs.

Games organizers have been working to slash costs after a study in 2016 warned that expenses could balloon to four times the initial estimate made in the bid process.

The IOC is keen for Tokyo to set a good example by cutting costs in order to attract future candidate cities but Coates stressed that the second version of the budget was not solely about reducing costs.

“It is not just about saving you money. It is about a more efficient delivery of the Games and utilizing the knowledge of your stakeholders.

“I hope, and I will stress this many times, that you approach it from that aspect, not just saving money.”

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori reiterated during his opening remarks that “budget reduction is the highest priority” for organizers.

Mori also spoke of his sadness at the passing of Katsunori Imai, who was the executive director for security on the organizing committee. Imai, a former Tokyo police director, died last week and Mori led officials in a moment of silence.

Source(s): Reuters