(ATR) IOC co-com chief for Tokyo 2020 denies he has any qualms about the massive changes to the Games masterplan since the city was awarded the Olympics.
"I have no hesitation with the changes that have been affected," John Coates told reporters at a briefing in Lausanne Wednesday.
"It is still a Games that is centralized in Tokyo. We have two sports outside – sailing cycling."
He added: "It’s always the case that venue masterplans change, more so [for Tokyo] due to Olympic Agenda 2020."
Coates’ comments came after the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and the UCI confirmed earlier today a deal had been struck to relocate the velodrome and mountain bike facilities to Izu, 120km west of the Japanese capital. The UCI fought a long but fruitless battle to keep the disciplines in downtown Tokyo.
Coates revealed that a satellite village would be built 19.4km from Izu, a 30-minutes car ride, offering athletes "at least equal to everything they will receive at the Olympic Village downtown".
The IOC vice president couldn’t give a figure as to how much the smaller Village would cost or put a price on the significant upgrade required of the existing velodrome in Izu. But he said savings of $100 million would be made through the relocation plan and transport links – via bullet train and by road to Izu – were also to the satisfaction of the UCI.
The UCI agreement means the IOC has now signed off on the venue masterplan for 27 of the 28 sports on the Tokyo sports program. Football will be confirmed after the Rio Games.
The IOC Executive Board heard from all the organizing committees for upcoming Games.
PyeongChang 2018 Big Air
Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi confirmed that Big Air snowboarding would take place at the ski jumping venue in Alpensia. The IOC added to the event to the Winter Olympics in June. "We are very happy with that," Dubi said.
More concerning for the IOC is the timeline for delivery of the gondola for downhill. Dubi said it would be delivered by Jan. 20. The downhill World Cup test event for the 2018 Olympics takes place just two weeks later.
"The Games are coming to delivery time and it really feels good when you see athletes on the slopes," he said.
Beijing 2022 Committee
On schedule, the 2022 Winter Olympic organizing committee iss set to be announced later this month. Dubi said there were indications that the top Chinese officials for the 2022 Games would be named in the next two weeks.
Lillehammer 2016 – Ready to Go
Dubi described the Norwegian hosts’ plans as "stunning" following a presentation to the IOC. "They are full of energy. Their venues are ready."
He praised plans for the "Sjoggfest", the snow festival that will include a daily program of film, music and arts and animations for visitors that "will lighten up the city for 12 days of the YOG".
2024 Lots Drawn
The order of presentations for the 2024 Olympic bid cities on the road to Lima was confirmed after the drawing of lots in Lausanne – Los Angeles, Rome, Budapest, Paris.
LA 2024 will kick off presentations at a series of Olympic gatherings over the coming 21 months including at the IOC Session in Peru where the host city vote takes place in September 2017. Paris may gain some advantage by being the final city to pitch IOC members before the secret ballot.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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