ATR First: Coates Says Tokyo 2020 Ready to Tackle Games Prep

(ATR) IOC Vice President John Coates tells Around the RingsTokyo 2020 is ready to move into new phases of preparation for the Games with the roles and responsibilitiesat the local level resolved.

Coates, chair of the Coordination Commission, spoke to reporters after the first day of the CoComm’s fourth visit to Tokyo today. After a round of morning meetings the commission went on a tour of Tokyo venues, visiting the National Stadium construction site, the athlete’s village site, and the Aomi Urban Sports venue site.

"It was a critical step along the way for the organizing committee and the national government and the Tokyo city government to amongst themselves work out who is responsible for what and who’s paying," Coates said to ATR.

"We still think there are opportunities to make further savings as [does] the organizing committee…it’s a great deal of satisfaction that we came out of this morning’s meeting [with]."

At the Aomi site the commission met with four Japanese athletes that would be using the venues in the urban park. The athletes included skateboarders, sport climbers, and a 5-a-side footballer. Coates told the assembled press that seeing the urban park was a highlight of the visit, and a venue the IOC is "very pleased" with seeing come together. The venue is located within walking distance of beach volleyball, triathlon, aquatics, tennis, and the Main Press Center.

Coates even discussed the idea of bringing the urban sports back to the people after each day's competition had wrapped up during the Games.

"We want them available to the people of Tokyo," Coates suggested. "There will be competitions [in the morning], then say in the afternoon children can access and have a go themselves."

Sport climbing, skateboarding, and 5-a-side Paralympic football are the three sports confirmed for the park. Coates said that 3x3 basketball and BMX freestlye are being considered for the site.

Before the venue tour the commission heard presentations focused on organization, finance, and venue construction.

Tokyo 2020 briefed the CoComm on a number of new executive hires and how they fit in the organizing committee structure. Tokyo 2020 has hired a Chief Ceremonies Officer and a Chief International Technology Officer, among the executives.

It is expected that the second budget for the Tokyo 2020 Games will be published by the end of the year.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo 2020 delivered an update on construction to the IOC. Since the 2016 meeting of the group the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza is the only venue that has been completed. The plaza will host Modern Pentathlon events and badminton.

Written and reported in Tokyo by Aaron Bauer

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