IOC Provisional Board Approval
Additional Expenses Estimated at 300 to 500 Billion Yen
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, postponed due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been decided to open on July 23 next year. The Paralympics will open on August 24.
On the 30th, NHK reported, citing Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials, that Tokyo, the organizing committee, and the Japanese government have agreed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, postponed by about one year.
Originally, this year's Summer Olympics were scheduled to open in Tokyo on July 24, and the Paralympics on August 25. However, as COVID-19 spread, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the host country leader, proposed a postponement of about one year during a phone call with IOC President Thomas Bach on the 24th. President Bach accepted this, and Tokyo and the organizing committee consulted with the IOC to finalize the new schedule.
The Japanese side, including the organizing committee, recently proposed July 23 next year, a Friday close to this year's opening day (Friday, July 24), considering that recent Summer Olympics often open on Fridays, and obtained the IOC's consent.
There was also consideration of holding the Games in spring (May-June) next year to avoid the midsummer heat, but concerns about further cancellations or postponements if the COVID-19 situation is delayed led to settling on a July-August opening.
It is also known that opening on July 23 next year maintains a schedule similar to the original plan, making it relatively easier to adjust the competition schedule, and since it is during summer vacation, it is easier to recruit about 80,000 volunteers.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said regarding this, "We will prepare anew to ensure a safe and secure Games for athletes and spectators," adding, "First of all, we must overcome the novel coronavirus."
The organizing committee plans to comprehensively review issues related to the postponement, such as adjusting the competition schedule, centered on the "New Start Tokyo 2020 Games Implementation Headquarters" led by Secretary-General Tsuneyoshi Muto. The committee expects additional expenses of 300 billion to 500 billion yen (approximately 3.35 trillion to 5.58 trillion KRW) due to costs such as re-contracting competition venues and increased labor costs caused by the postponement.
The IOC also issued a statement on the same day confirming these details. The IOC stated that this decision was made considering ▲the protection of the health of athletes and everyone involved in the Olympics and the suppression of COVID-19 spread ▲the protection of the interests of athletes and Olympic sports ▲the international sports calendar.
IOC President Thomas Bach said, "I want to thank the International Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) for their support shown during the discussions over the past few days," adding, "I also want to express my gratitude to the IOC Athletes' Commission." He continued, "With the cooperation of the Tokyo Olympic Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japanese government, and all stakeholders, I am confident we can overcome this unprecedented challenge," emphasizing, "Humanity is currently in a dark tunnel. The Tokyo Olympics can be the light at the end of this tunnel."
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