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Tomorrow's review about the venues for Tokyo Olympics
The conclusion will be released tomorrow, 29 November.
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said that it is "the last chance" to review the venues of Tokyo Olympics・Paralympics in 2020.
The one who visited Yokohama Arena at Kanagawa Prefecture for observation was the related personnel of IOC＝International Olympic Committee.
Compared with building a new facility with 37 billion yen, as for this Yokohama Arena, its renovation fee is estimated to be 700 million yen only, so it is suggested to be the venue for volleyball.
The current review is about venue for swimming in addition to the venue for volleyball and then, the venue for boat / canoe which has been suggested to be located at Miyagi Prefecture.
The conclusion for these venues will also be released, the negotiation under the table has been done.
Today, the meeting for the success of Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics has been carried out. President Mori, Head of 2020 Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee and Governor Koike and others attended the meeting.
Governor Koike had greeting as below.
■Governor Koike
"I would like to incorporate the concept of ‘regrettable waste' into the operation of the event".
She emphasised again that the plan of the venue should be reviewed in order to reduce cost.
The cost reduction was proposed by President Bach of IOC and a four-party working group comprising Tokyo-to, IOC, 2020 Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee, and Japan government was established.
Yesterday the related personnel of IOC went to visit Yokohama Arena. This is the place where Tokyo proposed as the alternative to "Ariake Arena".
At the same time, in a hotel in Tokyo-to the meeting of the working group was held. The discussion took place in private for six hours. The person-in-charge of IOC attended this meeting.
■IOC・Christophe Dubi
"This time there were various options. Although we collected detailed information, it is the political leaders who make the decision".
The four-party top-level meeting gathering Governor Koike, [IOC] Vice-President Coates, President Mori, Minister Marukawa showed prospect that a conclusion might come out.
■Governor Koike
"What can be decided may be decided first. What cannot be decided may be decided later. This depends on the consultation tomorrow".
In fact the review this time is "the second review".
The one who expressed in the first review was this person, former Governor Masuzoe. That was two years ago.
The original plan was "Compact Olympics" where the contest facilities were gathered to be within 8km distance from the athletes' village. But this plan expanded the cost for construction enormously.
The review of Masuzoe-san was to change the venues for basketball and badminton from building new arena at Yume no Shima in Koutouku to the already built Saitama Super Arena and the facility at Choufu City.
Furthermore, the venue for sailing was reviewed to change from building new venue at Wakasu in Koutouku to already built facility at Enoshima in Kanagawa Prefecture. If the plan of building new facilities is terminated, nearly 200 billion yen facility maintenance cost can be saved.
However, the compromise is that the venues will become scattered. The concept "Compact Olympics" will become waned.
"Heritage Zone" which means "heritage" and "Tokyo Bay Zone" these two area are now stretched sideways. The review of Governor Koike this time is as concluded by Masuzoe-san as "as planned" two years ago. "Volleyball venue", "Swimming venue", "Boat / Canoe venue" these three venues will be reviewed "one more time".
However, the second review is strict consultation.
On one hand, the keyman of the review, IOC Vice President Coates made this statement.
The review two years ago was based on a precedent that the venue of London Olympics. He showed an understanding that "Changing plan for cost reduction matches the principle of IOC".
While in October 2016, while he was explained the plan after the second review, "The change of plan will ruin the relationship of trust", he expressed his displeasure.
Because, in the review last time, not only Masuzoe-san but also IOC Vice President Coates and President Mori of Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee were worried about the three-trillion-yen cost expansion.
Because of this, after Masuzoe-san elaborated his review, at quite early stage Tokyo-to, IOC, Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee were on the same ground in searching alternative venues and explained the situation to the International Sports Federations.
But the proposed review of Governor Koike this time is a great surprise to the related parties. In regard to this, President Mori of Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee said "I hope Governor Koike would understand the review considered by us thus far"
asking for an understanding on the discussion continuously made by the related parties. Now it is the starting stage but it can be seen that the various parties are not on the same ground.
Tomorrow 29 November, whatever conclusion comes out it is hoped that this discussion will unite all parties towards the success of the event.