IOC Confidence Abounds After Tokyo Inspection

(ATR) The International Olympic Committee concludes the fifth Coordination Commission visit to Tokyo with praise for Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers.

"The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee is committed to ensuring that the Olympic Games not only benefit the region for years to come, but that they are also an unforgettable experience for the Japanese people, by creating interactive initiatives both in the lead-up to and at the Games themselves," IOC Coordination Commission chair John Coates said in a statement.

"We left Tokyo confident yet again that preparations are well underway to host a fantastic Olympic Games."

Coates was joined in the Japanese capital by 15 fellow CoComm members, including the embattled IOC member from Israel Alex Gilady. Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori made a point to lead the IOC delegation in singing "Happy Birthday" to Gilady during the CoComm. Gilady turned 75 on Dec. 9.

Gilady, who serves as the vice chair of the CoComm, is currently facing allegations of sexual misconduct by Israeli journalists which he has staunchly denied.

"Mr. Gilady has an extensive experience and expertise in the Olympic Movement and has been serving for the IOC Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020 ever since the establishment of the commission," Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Masa Takaya tells Around the Rings.

"Mr. Gilady already denied the allegations and is taking legal action. He was in Tokyo for the past three days for the 5th Coordination Commission meeting and provided guidance and support on our preparations."

New IOC Executive Board member Nicole Hoevertsz did not take part in the visit due to her new responsibility as chair of the commission deciding and overseeing the participation criteria for Russian athletes at the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympics. IOC member Yu Zaiqing was the only other commission member not to attend the inspection.

The three-day visit featured the opening of voting for the Tokyo 2020 mascot by 6.5 million schoolchildren in Japan. The youth voters have 10 weeks to submit their choice from the three mascot finalists with the winner being revealed on Feb. 28.

Other topics addressed at the meeting included the new budget, National Olympic Committee and International Federations support as well as the Paralympic Games.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics are now less than 1,000 days away, with the opening ceremony at the new Japan National Stadium scheduled for July 24, 2020.

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Written by Kevin Nutley

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