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The Tokyo Olympics facing the crisis, a project to lighten

2020-07-15T16:17:30.077Z


The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee recognizes the impact of the crisis on the concept of the Olympic Games 2020 and the essential adaptation.


Yasuhiro Yamashita, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee since June 2019, member of the International Olympic Committee since January 2020 and legend of judo is an institution whose voice is heard. The judoka, Olympic heavyweight champion in 1984 (quadruple world champion), at a press conference, admitted, aware of the impact of the health crisis on the economy that there would be a front and a then at the level of the Olympic Games and that it would start in Tokyo in 2021 (July 23-August 8): “The Games, which I have known before (were) magnificent and extravagant. But I don't think the concept of these Games will pursue these goals. The first priority is to be safe. ” And the Japanese add in comments reported by Reuters: “Regarding the next fiscal year, the financial situation (of the committee) will be quite difficult. I think it is quite possible that we should consider borrowing money. ” 

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Words that illustrate the constant concern of the organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and echo those made by Tony Estanguet, president of the Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which summarized, after an interview with Emmanuel Macron and Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC: “We are very humble in the face of the uncertainties posed by this crisis. Our responsibility is to adapt. We built the budget in the bid phase in 2016: 3.8 billion euros, 97.5% private funding and 100 million euros of dedicated public money for the Paralympic Games, with one principle: we will not spend than the money we made. Changing the model is out of the question. This means that perfect budgetary control is needed. Faced with an uncertain scenario, we want to find room for maneuver, around 10% of the budget, to deal with the potential additional costs that we would not have anticipated but that could happen. There are two main tracks on which we will work: adapt the service levels, by doing things differently and by better pooling the transport, accommodation, catering systems… Pooling, this means for example stopping having a transportation system for athletes, one for the media, one for officials, etc. ”

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In line with remarks made by Thomas Bach on June 10 after the holding of an executive committee of the apex body held by videoconference: "We are looking, with our Japanese partners and friends, for ways to simplify the organization of the Games , see how we can reduce the complexity of the Games and how we can reduce the costs of these postponed Games. ”  

Adapting to stay the course, by reducing the airfoil, even if it means offending certain habits. A must. Tokyo, where the Games should have prepared to light the flame (July 24) holds its breath and must face the polls of distrust of a population who admits other concerns and turns their backs on the event. The words of Yasuhiro Yamashita are part of a project that advances day by day in the light of the evolution of health development and its economic corollary.

Read also

  • Tony Estanguet at Le Figaro: "The Paris 2024 Games will help revive France"

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-07-15

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