#ICYMI: Paralympic Accommodations; Tokyo Volunteers; Rio Park Woes

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Paralympics Exec Hopes for More Accessible Tokyo, Lima Accoms

Two stops this week – Tokyo and then to Lima – as International Paralympic Committee executive director Xavier González keeps his eye on two big events coming up.

In Tokyo at the start of the week, Gonzalez observes the 2020 Paralympics could be the best in history. However, he expressed his concern for what he considered "an insufficient number of accessible rooms ready for the Games".

The Paralympic leader said that athletes can expect an excellent Paralympic Village. Gonzalez says he’s worried about rooms in hotels for other people with disabilities. He says sponsors, Paralympic officials, guests, fans and the media will all need accessible rooms. The IPC says between 400 and 500 accessible wheelchair rooms are needed.

The organizing committee of Tokyo says that the city has around 700 accessible rooms, although reports refer to a smaller number.

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Tokyo Government Reports Volunteer Statistics

Tokyo government statistics show that Tokyo 2020 organizers will receive more than enough applicants to fill its quota of 80,000 volunteers.

Applications for Tokyo 2020 and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government volunteer programs are open from September 26 to December 5. The TMG has been regularly releasing statistics to track the number of applications received for each program.

Tokyo 2020 will accept 80,000 volunteers to help run the Olympic Games, while the TMG aims to recruit 20,000 volunteers to assist city operations during the Games. An additional 10,000 volunteers will be recruited from Rugby World Cup tourism volunteers, applicants from Tokyo universities, and applicants recommended by Tokyo municipalities.

So far the TMG says that has received 52,249 applications in the first month of the registration period. In total, 92,920 individuals have begun the registration process on Tokyo 2020’s website.

There has been less interest in volunteer work with the city. The TMG says that it has received 6,012 applications, well short of the goal of 20,000.

Around 60 percent of applicants have been women for both volunteer positions. The TMG said that 60 percent of applicants for the Olympic volunteer position have been under 30, while 50 percent of the TMG volunteer applicants have been under 40.

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Solutions for Rio Olympic Park Remain Elusive

The Brazilian Social Development Bank (BNDES) is still analyzing how to secure a private operator for the Rio 2016 Olympic Park.

Last year the Brazilian government created the Olympic Legacy Management Authority (AGLO) to run the large section of the park currently operated by the Ministry of Sports. This section includes Carioca Arena 1 and 2, the velodrome, and the tennis center.

A BNDES spokesperson confirmed to Around the Rings that it signed a contract in March with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Management (MPDG) to develop a plan to find a new operator for the Park. ATR reported in May 2017 that the sports ministry had held preliminary discussions with BNDES about providing financing to entice an operator.

Administration of the park has been in limbo since the Paes administration had sought a 25 year lease for the venues after the 2016 Olympics. A Ministry of Sports spokesperson confirmed to ATR that the ministry ended up signing the lease on Dec. 23 so that the four venues were not left abandoned.

"After a period of talks between the City of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Government about the scope of this project, the BNDES received in October 2018 a communication from the MPDG defining the scope to be studied and authorizing its beginning," a BNDES spokesperson said in a statement.

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