Cycling Loses Battle to Keep 2020 Olympic Venues in Tokyo

(ATR) The UCI has bowed to pressure to stage track cycling at a velodrome 120km west of Tokyo, despite grave concerns about costs and Games legacy benefits.

The IOC Executive Board on Wednesday confirmed the four venue locations for cycling following fraught negotiations between the UCI and Tokyo 2020 that have dragged on over the past year.

While the UCI may be satisfied that the road races and time trials will take place in center of Tokyo, cycling federation leaders are likely to be less than happy about the venue agreement to move the velodrome and mountain bike facilities out of the city.

Despite lobbying Tokyo 2020 and the IOC for months to keep track cycling in the Olympic city, events will take place at the Japan Cycle Sport Centre in Izu, about two hours from the Japanese capital. The existing velodrome, which has Mount Fuji as a backdrop, will undergo significant refurbishment with the seating capacity increased. The mountain bike course is now also moved to Izu.

In August, UCI president Brian Cookson told Around the Rings he was "very concerned about the choice we are being given" to move events to Izu. "Two-and-a-half hours out of Tokyo is considerably different from the bid," he said.

Cookson argued that the plan to relocate its popular sports events so far from the main Olympic hub would diminish the sport’s appeal and, crucially, cycling’s post-Games legacy.

Tokyo 2020 and the IOC rejected the UCI’s three alternative venue proposals for the velodrome in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Tokyo Olympic chiefs have insisted they tore up bid book plans to relocate the velodrome and mountain bike course at Izu mainly to save costs. Yet both facilities will require major renovation.

The UCI had said each of their three options would cost less than the $52 million estimated cost of modifying Izu’s existing cycling facility.

In the summer, Cookson told ATR that Izu was "impractical" and not in line with Agenda 2020 principles. "I don’t think a series of separate world championship events in different parts of the host nation are necessarily in line with the original spirit of the Olympic Games," he said at the time.

On Wednesday, the IOC claimed it was a good deal for the UCI, which would result in savings of around $100 million from the revised Tokyo 2020 construction budget.

"Designed to deliver an unforgettable experience for riders and fans, and significant post-Games benefits for cycling in Japan, the venue master plan has been mapped out in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 – placing a focus on cost effectiveness, sustainability and legacy," an IOC release said.

Following the UCI’s concerns about the impact of the Izu move on the athlete and spectator experience, the IOC claimed "the athlete experience will be guaranteed, as all athletes and team officials whose events will be at Izu will have the option to stay in the main Athletes’ Village before and after their competition."

During the competitions, athletes will stay at a satellite village located close to the event venues.

Addressing the federation’s Tokyo 2020 legacy concerns, the IOC, the Japanese Cycling Federation and local authorities had committed to reinforcing their support for the Japan Cycle Sports Centre, "with the aim of establishing a comprehensive multi-support cycling centre".

The Japanese federation along with the Izu city authorities and other national cycling stakeholders "have also committed to provide ongoing support for national cycling academy programs".

Cycling federation chiefs will at least be comforted by approval of plans to keep BMX events at a 5,000-capacity purpose-built temporary facility at Ariake in the heart of Tokyo, their favored option.

Commenting on the compromise deal for the UCI, Cookson said in a statement that it marked an "important milestone for cycling at the Olympic Games".

On the enhanced legacy agreement, he added: "I am pleased that cycling is helping to lead the way in embracing the IOC’s Agenda 2020.

"This is not just in terms of our commitment to use existing venues, but also to work alongside the organizing committee, Japanese Cycling Federation and city authorities to drive a real legacy of increased participation in cycling and in Japan hosting a number of major UCI events over the longer term."

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said the resolution of the Izu issue "constitutes the optimal choice of venue from a wide range of perspectives: including the athlete experience, maximum use of existing venues, post-Games legacies, and for the future development of the sport of cycling in Japan and across Asia."

Reported by Mark Bisson

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