#ICYMI: Tokyo 2020 Budget, Bobsleigh Boss on 2026 Bidding, North Korea at Paralympics

(ATR) #ICMYI -- In Case You Missed It ... Sometimes the best stories don't get the attention we think they deserve. Here are our staff picks for articles this week they really want you to know about.

"Nothing Off Limits" for Tokyo 2020 Savings

Tokyo 2020 organizers tell Around the Rings that no areas are off limits for potential cost-cuts following the International Olympic Committee project review.

IOC member John Coates previously said the IOC wants the budget slashed by $1 billion from the current $12 billion budget. Coates said he saw potential for cost reductions in 11 of the 14 areas that were discussed during the meetings that took place from Oct. 3-4.

"Tokyo 2020 and the IOC had a thorough, productive discussion on cost reduction during the IOC Project Review meeting days ago," a Tokyo 2020 spokesperson tells ATR. "Tokyo 2020 is now reviewing the draft of its version-two budget, and the entire picture of the budget configuration will be made clear to the public when it is unveiled at the end of this year."

"Tokyo 2020 will keep working towards cost reduction, not only in operational budgets, but also in every other possible area including temporary facilities, IT and energy provision in close cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the national government and other stakeholders," the spokesperson added.

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Bobsleigh Chief:2026 Bidding on Right Track

Bobsleigh federation president and IOC member Ivo Ferriani tells Around the Rings he is disappointed over the vote in Austria that rejected plans to bid for the 2026 Winter Games in Innsbruck.

"They will miss a great opportunity," says Ferriani. More than 53 percent of the votes in the referendum in the Tyrol region went against the bid, 46 percent in favor.

Ferriani says the referendum, while necessary, could have been better timed. The vote last Sunday was held the same day as other elections for parliament and local government. Ferriani says Innsbruck may have benefitted from consultations with the IOC that are now part of the first year of the new bidding process. The change is a direct result of Olympic Agenda 2020, the package of 40 recommendations adopted by the IOC three years ago.

"The IOC is on the right track with its reformed bidding process for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The cities can approach the IOC for this discussion without cost. The IOC can provide analysis, the expertise, to customize the plans, Ferriani says.

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IPC Hoping for First North Korean Winter Olympian

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons and South Korea President Jae In Moon express optimism that North Korea will compete in its first Winter Paralympics at PyeongChang 2018.

"We want next March’s Games to involve as many countries as possible," Parsons said in a statement following his meeting with the South Korean President on Oct. 17. "We were both in strong agreement that we would like North Korea to participate for the first time in a Winter Games."

North Korea made its Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Summer Games with Rim Ju Song competing in swimming and followed that with two athletics entries for the Rio 2016 Summer Games, Kim Chol Ung and Song Kum Jong. A North Korean has yet to compete in the Winter Paralympics, a trend that Parsons and Moon hope ends next March.

The two leaders met at the conclusion of the final IPC Project Review in PyeongChang that began on Oct. 15. With less than five months until the second Winter Paralympics in Asia, Parsons said fan engagement and awareness is still a point of major concern for organizers.

"POCOG is now gearing up to transition from the planning phase to delivery," said Parsons. "While we remain confident that the sporting competition will be excellent in PyeongChang, we further stressed to POCOG the urgent need to increase awareness of the Paralympic Winter Games and further engagement with the Korean public.

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