Tokyo 2020 Could be 'Simplified'

(ATR) Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike tells Japanese media that it might be necessary to stage a simplified Olympics next year to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Koike’s comments come following reports in Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper and other domestic media outlets concerning countermeasures being explored by Japanese organizers.

The Yomiuri, citing government and organizing committee sources, said mandatory tests for athletes, staff and spectators; reduced seating at venues and limited movement in and out of the athletes village were all considerations to be discussed with the IOC.

"Holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games calls for sympathy and understanding of Tokyoites and the Japanese people," Koike told Japanese reporters on Thursday. "For that, we need to rationalize what needs to be rationalized and simplify what needs to be simplified."

However, Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya insists that detailed discussions have yet to take place among Tokyo 2020 leaders, while addressing international journalists on a teleconference call from Tokyo on Thursday.

"We are aware that Madame Koike mentioned something about the meeting of the committee, but we don’t know exactly what she meant," he said, regarding Koike’s reference to the Tokyo 2020 "New Launch" task force.

"I don’t think Tokyo 2020 should be in the position to qualify her remarks," he said.

Takaya told reporters that "concrete discussions are starting this fall" as international journalists speculated that the reports in the Japanese press have stemmed from leaked sources.

Takaya also informed that Tokyo 2020 countermeasure discussions in the fall would most likely be focused upon "optimization of service levels, streamlining the scope and other cost reduction measures caused by the postponement."

"Once we have much clearer views of the situation surrounding the coronavirus this fall, we should be able to go into more in-depth discussions," he said.

Regarding speculation of possible reduction of seating at venues said to be under discussion as reported by Japanese media, Takaya remained steadfast that details have yet to be addressed.

"That is something the general public, particularly ticket holders, may be concerned about but my remarks today are that I want to brush off the concerns that the general public may have," Takaya said.

"There is no discussion going on today, however if there is a necessity to have let’s say less seating capacity to have more room between spectators, requiring either two-thirds or one-third, that is something that Tokyo 2020 should consider."

"As I said, the discussions of the countermeasures of the novel coronavirus are starting this fall," Takaya reiterated, while noting he didn’t have a precise answer as to why the specific time frame.

Takaya noted that Tokyo 2020 will deliver a 15-minute report to the IOC Executive Board during a scheduled EB meeting next Wednesday, June 10.

Takaya also addressed a question from Around the Rings regarding if there are any new concerns for organizers following positive COVID-19 tests of two Yomiuri Giants baseball players, including Nippon Professional Baseball League MVP Hayato Sakamoto. Japanese media speculate that the scheduled NPB season opening set for June 19 could now be delayed.

"As far as I understand from the media reports there has been no discussion that this should be postponed after June 19," Takaya said.

"Of course, Tokyo 2020 has a regular communications channel with some of the professional baseball league teams and the NPB concerning use of the venues to be used next year.

"However, we do not have a regular communication particularly on these countermeasures of the novel coronavirus."

After Thursday's teleconference call, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the two players tested negative after being retested for COVID-19.

Homepage photo: ATR

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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