The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee have come up with “over 200 opportunities” to reduce costs and simplify the process of holding the postponed Games.
“A list of 200 opportunities have now been identified between Tokyo 2020 and the IOC in order to reduce the demands, in particular financial, resulting from Tokyo 2020 postponement,” said the IOC in a letter to all International Federations (IF) on Tuesday.
“These opportunities cover all areas and stakeholder groups including but not limited to venues, technology/energy, transport and arrivals and departures.”
The IOC said that the organisers are now working to develop detailed proposals for each idea. “Once received, we will review each of these with the ASOIF Olympic Multi-Sport Games (AOMSG) Working Group prior to passing them to all IFs for your input on both general sport/venue specific considerations,” it said.
IOC President Thomas Bach said last month that the postponement of the Olympics will cost the IOC over $800 million.
“We anticipate we will have to bear costs of up to $800 million for our part and responsibilities in the organization of the postponed Games Tokyo 2020,” Bach said in a teleconference after the IOC’s Executive Board meeting.
Bach said that “$650 million would go towards the organization of the Games next year and $150 million to support international federations and National Olympic Committees (NOC).”
Originally scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9, the Olympics was in March this year postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will now be held from July 23 to August 9, 2021.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire world to a standstill and the sporting arena is no exception.
Even the biggest cricketing spectacle on the planet, the Indian Premier League (IPL), stands suspended indefinitely owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, Bundesliga became the first high-profile sporting event to resume after a 65 day period with almost no sporting activity. Serie A, La Liga and Premier League are all expected to resume this month.
A few cricketing boards around the world have only recently granted permission to their players to resume training.
The move to restart sporting leagues and tournaments come after governments are beginning to realise that the coronavirus is here to stay for quite some time and sports among other businesses will need to find a way to co-exist with it.
The virus has already infected more than 7 million people around the world while claiming over 4 lakh lives. There is still no sure shot treatment of the disease and social-distancing, self-isolation and maintenance of basic hand hygiene remain the only potent weapons of protecting oneself from contracting the infection.
(With inputs from IANS)