IOC Gets Tokyo 2020 Apology for Olympic Stadium Controversy -- On the Scene

(ATR) The IOC is supporting the review of new Olympic stadium plans for Tokyo 2020 after president Yoshiro Mori gave his "sincerest apologies" following the scrapping of the $2.5 billion venue project.

The 80,000-seat stadium plan for the 2020 Olympics was axed earlier this month by order of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe due to rocketing costs.

"I extended my sincerest apologies for the fact that we would have to change the plan for the new national stadium," Mori told reporters in Kuala Lumpur following Tokyo 2020’s update to the IOC Executive Board.

The IOC told Mori that his formal apology was "not necessary".

"President Bach says any plan has to go through changes it needs to go through and he has expectations that the plan will be good."

Speaking through a translator, he added: "He gave us encouragement for us that the Olympic stadium will be completed in time for the Games. He said that this cannot just be left to the government of Japan alone but we will fully cooperate with the relevant bodies.

"IOC has much expertise that it can contribute to this matter and that they are ready to offer any support necessary.

According to Mori, Bach complimented Tokyo 2020 organizers on their "hard work and progress" across the project.

Asked about questions that came from IOC Executive Board members to Tokyo 2020 leaders, he admitted that concerns had been expressed about the national stadium controversy. Mori said the IOC had noted that Tokyo’s efforts "are going in the right direction".

It was left to Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto to add further elaborate on the presentation. Muto updated the IOC’s ruling body on the status of venues, including the location of cycling and football facilities which are still up in the air.

On the abandoned Zaha Hadid-designed Olympic stadium project, he said the design was back on the drawing board.

Saying the IOC had given their "full understanding and support for the review", he appeared to pass the buck for the project on to the Japanese government.

"It is clear that the government is going to make it. It is their commitment so we will not comment," he said, adding that Tokyo 2020’s top priority was that it was completed on schedule.

John Coates, IOC Coordination Commission chair for Tokyo 2020, told Around the Rings that he had received assurances last month in Tokyo that the $2.5 billion project would go ahead. But the public opinion and polling was significantly against it. That being the case, the IOC can't go in the face of public opinion. I think it's a good decision for us."

Tokyo 2020 had been guided by cost-cutting proposals in the IOC's Agenda 2020 reforms across its venues plan - but not the national stadium project, Coates said.

"It's obvious it's too much to spend on a national stadium," he told ATR.

Coates said when was at the Tokyo 2020 emblem launch last week he was given fresh pledges from the new Olympics minister Toshiaki Endothat the stadium would be delivered by around March or April 2020.

Delay in UCI Venues Approval

The IOC was keen for Tokyo 2020 and the UCI to lock down venue plans by the time of the 128th Session in Kuala Lumpur.

But Muto confirmed that the UCI Executive Board would be meeting in late September to finalise venue plans for Tokyo 2020.

"We have tried very hard to be in time for this IOC meeting but we will wait until that time to finalise," he told reporters.

The UCI has pitched three venue proposals to Tokyo 2020 in a bid to ensure the Olympic velodrome is not moved to Izu – 130km and 2.5hrs travel time from the main hub of the Games. Tokyo 2020 plans to relocate the arena, along with the BMX and mountain bike courses to the city.

FIFA has informed Tokyo 2020 that it wants to approve venues for the Olympics after Rio 2016. But no new football venues or major renovations are planned.

Muto said Tokyo 2020 was actively seeking to reduce construction costs on its venues concept.

Reported in Kuala Lumpur by Mark Bisson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.