The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board will meet today over teleconference to discuss issues surrounding Tokyo Olympic Games postponement and other important matters. The IOC board meeting is taking place two days before the first virtual IOC Session on 17th.
IOC Board Meeting : Tokyo Olympics to be discussed threadbare
Tokyo 2020 was delayed by a year by the IOC and organisers in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In today’s IOC Executive Board meeting, Coordination Commission chair John Coates will present a report on progress made by Tokyo 2020.
Tokyo 2020 presented to the IOC Executive Board last month, with chief executive Toshiro Muto promising a “simplified Games” amid claims there were 200 ideas on how to achieve this and reduce costs.
Last week, reports claimed that Tokyo 2020 were close to securing all of the sporting venues for the Games next year, but this was downplayed by organisers. They had previously confirmed that 80 per cent of venues were in place, with the Athletes’ Village, due to be sold off as housing after the Games, and the Tokyo Big Sight, the location of the Main Press Centre and International Broadcasting Centre, proving to be particular stumbling blocks.
IOC Board Meeting : Issues surrounding Tokyo Olympics to be discussed
A survey this month found that 77 per cent of Japanese believe that Tokyo 2020 “cannot be held” next year. Some have suggested that a vaccine must be developed for the Games to go ahead safely, while other Japanese experts have suggested the Games could lead to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The rearranged Tokyo Olympics cost escalation is impacting and hitting sporting ecosystem of Japan badly. According to the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) chairman Yasuhiro Yamashita the organizers will cut down all the extravagance from the games. The JOC chairman also admitted we are suffering financially and ‘may have to borrow monies’ next year. Not only this, JOC has also reduced the annual training budgets for the national sporting federations of Japan due to these financial struggles.
The IOC Board meeting will discuss all these issues threadbare and will update the board members.
Also Read:
International Olympic Committee Board Meeting : How to follow the updates ?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) will meet remotely by videoconference through a secure electronic system on Wednesday 15 July and Wednesday 22 July 2020. The IOC EB will meet on 15 July to prepare for the 136th IOC Session, which will take place two days later, on Friday 17 July 2020.
The IOC Session on 17 July will be streamed live on YouTube.
The IOC President will hold media teleconferences after both events.
IOC EB meeting media teleconference
Date: Wednesday 15 July
Time: 5 p.m. CEST
IOC Session media teleconference
Date: Friday 17 July
Time: 5 p.m. CEST