On the Scene in Tokyo - Whirlwind Week for IOC

(ATR) Monday begins bright and early for members of the IOC Evaluation Commission.

Tokyo 2020 wastes no time getting down to business with presentations on vision, legacy and communication; overall concept of the Games; sport and venues; Olympic Village; and Paralympic Games all before lunchtime.

Chairman Craig Reedie and company later leave the Palace Hotel for site visits in and around the city, including Ariake Tennis Park andHarumi Triton Square, an office tower from which they will enjoy a bird's eye view of the pier proposed for the Olympic and Paralympic Village.

As usual, members of the media will take separate buses as they tour some of the potential venues for the Games.

First up for Tuesday’s presentations is finance with marketing, political and public support as well as legal aspects to follow.

Inspections of Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, proposed for table tennis; Tokyo International Forum, for weightlifting; and others are slated for the afternoon.

Accommodation, transportation and media are tops on the agenda for Wednesday’s presentations while a tour of fencing, taekwondo and wresting venue Tokyo Big Sight waits in the afternoon.

Thursday morning presentations on Games safety, security and medical services as well as environment round out the 14 themes presented in Tokyo 2020’s candidature file.

A closing press conference with the IOC Evaluation Commission is scheduled for 4:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday with Tokyo 2020’s own press conference to follow at 5:30 p.m.

One aspect of the week no one can program: possible protests of the bid.

Reedie tells Around the Ringshe’s aware of the potential from parties unhappy with the treatment of schools for Koreans in Japan.

"If there is a significant protest, we will be prepared to see them," he says.

One other uncertainty: whether Emperor Akihito or Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet with the IOC delegation. Visits from the head of state often coincide with a traditional gala dinner, which Tokyo 2020 tells ATR is Wednesday night, but no details yet from the bid on any special guests.

Along with Reedie, who inspected Tokyo in 2009 as a member of the 2016 Evaluation Commission, hurdles gold medalist Guy Drut of France is the other repeat customer.

They will be joined by IOC colleagues Frank Fredericks of Namibia, Nat Indrapana of Thailand, Claudia Bokel of Germany (representing the Athletes’ Commission), Patrick Baumann of Switzerland (representing the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) and Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli of Switzerland as well as Eduardo Palomo of El Salvador (representing the Association of National Olympic Committees) and Andrew Parsons of Brazil (representing the International Paralympic Committee).

IOC head of bid city relations Jacqueline Barrett and a number of advisors will also accompany the Evaluation Commission for each of its visits. Sports director Christophe Dubi notably did not make the trip to Japan.

After this week in Tokyo, Madrid is next up March 18 to 21 with Istanbul rounding out the tour March 24 to 27.

Reported from Tokyo by Matthew Grayson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.