(ATR) A decision could come this weekend on whether to move the venue planned for rowing and canoe events in the Tokyo Olympics.
A working group with representatives from the IOC, Tokyo 2020, the city and national government convenes Nov. 27 to consider the move. The panel was formed after newly-elected Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Yuriko Koike objected to the cost of the venue planned for a shipping canal on the shoreline of Tokyo Bay.
Estimates for the venue, including post-Games legacy needs, have ranged upwards of $450 million. An alternative venue in the Miyagi prefecture, about 400km north of Tokyo has been proposed. While the costs are lower, doubts are being raised over whether the Miyagi site could be ready in time for the first test event, customarily held two years before the Games. The inconvenience and cost of travel to Miyagi is another factor being considered.
Both international federations, FISA and ICF, have urged that the venue stay put, a position that’s also shared by Tokyo 2020.
In the past week there apparently has been movement to find ways to reduce the costs of the Tokyo venue that may make it possible to remain in the city.
Since last year Tokyo organizers have moved a number of venues from locations in the city to more remote sites, saving costs by using existing venues. Basketball, cycling, sailing and baseball are among the sports affected that way. Volleyball may be next.
A notice from Tokyo 2020 says that IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi will report on the working group meeting Sunday afternoon in Tokyo. A decision on the venue, if not confirmed then, is not likely to remain unsettled for much longer given the shrinking time frame to build-out a venue regardless of where it is.
The working group meeting comes as Tokyo 2020 prepares to host a delegation from Rio de Janeiro for the traditional transfer of knowledge exercise that comes after the close of an Olympics. A group of 16 from Rio are expected in Japan for three days of meetings with Japanese counterparts.
The debrief will then be followed on Dec 1-2 with the latest meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020.
Written by Ed Hula.
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