Uncertainty Surrounds IOC Financial Support for Tokyo 2020

(ATR)Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori says it remains "unclear"how the $650 million approved by the IOC to cover additional costs of organizing the postponed Tokyo Olympics will be allocated and it is "entirely up to the IOC to decide".

"We are not in the position to reveal details at this point," Mori said, responding to a question from Around the Rings during a live remote press briefing from Tokyo on Friday.

"For us, this is something that we need to continue to discuss with the IOC. This amount, just as the IOC president stated, is to cover the financial impact of the postponement, and at the same time continue to enhance the engagement between us and the IOC."

"The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee takes this statement in a positive light, however when it comes to the entire amount of cost increase due to the postponement, it is something where we are just trying to work out in details."

Mori reiterated multiple times that it is uncertain exactly how much the one-year delay will cost Tokyo 2020 organizers and that determination is a "work in progress" between the IOC and organizing committee.

The Tokyo 2020 leader also said there is no time frame or deadline as to when and how allocation of the monies will be determined.

"Defining the items must come first, so we must come up with the list of items so we can put it under the scrutiny as soon as possible," Mori said. The Tokyo 2020 president, sitting alongside press chief Masa Takaya, virtually addressed approximately 250 members of the world’s media for more than an hour following a task force meeting in Tokyo.

The Tokyo meeting comes one day after IOC president Thomas Bach announced that the Executive Board approved an "envelope" of up to $800 million, with $650 million for organizing the Tokyo 2020 Games, now planned for July 2021. Takaya was asked if he could list the specific items being reviewed and evaluated in order to determine a revised budget.

"Exactly how many items is something that we are still working on, still trying to define and we are doing this work with the IOC." Takaya said. "There are quite a few items on the list, but we are not at the stage where we share any of the specific items yet."

Mori was asked point blank if he is certain that the Games will actually be held next summer in Tokyo and if there is a back-up plan.

"We are all aware that there are many different opinions out there, but as I’ve said already the decision in May by the IOC and the Japanese government is to start the Olympic Games on July 23rd next year," Mori said. "We, as an organizing committee, are doing everything to prepare to have the Games in 2021."

Considering mounting costs and uncertainties surrounding the unprecedented one-year setback, Mori said these Olympic Games could look entirely different than any previous Games.

"The actual Games that we will have one year from now may not be the conventional same Olympic and Paralympic Games that we’ve come to know.

"President Bach said yesterday it is time for all of us to review what are the essential things for the Games and what are the must have items.

"The coronavirus pandemic is not only affecting Japan, but the entire world, so the larger question is what do we think of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"I think we might come up with a new Olympic and Paralympic Games, something that is unique to Tokyo.

"How that will be, I can’t give you the details, but we might be able to come up with a further legacy because of the postponement," Mori said.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli from his home in Prague

Follow Brian on Twitter - @Brian_Pinelli

For general comments or questions,click here.

Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.