(ATR) The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee launches a new task force to explore all contingencies and execute the rescheduling of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Both Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori and CEOToshiro Muto admit the financial cost of moving the Games to 2021 will be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome.
Mori leads the new task force, which conducted its inaugural meeting on Thursday morning in the Japanese capital. The name of the group is the "Tokyo 2020 New Launch Task Force". It will ultimately be comprised of 20-30 representatives.
The IOC announced on Wednesday the creation of its new task force – named "Here We Go" – to tackle a similar mission.
"We are going to challenge unprecedented challenges," Mori said in his opening remarks. "We have prepared for seven years, but it was stopped before we realized it.
"We will re-make the Games – it is difficult for us to take on this challenge again with only about a half year.
"We may experience hardship more than ever," he said. "It will be very hard work for us."
The meeting took place two days after IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe announced that the XXXII Olympic and Paralympic Games – scheduled to begin on July 24 – will be postponed to a date no later than summer of 2021.
Mori also addressed the thousands of athletes whoseplanning and training schedules remain dramatically affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Japanese sports leader called for them to rise up to the unexpected challenge.
"We will hold the Olympic Games for athletes to perform at the best, but I think they should not think we are the main stars," Mori said. "They should confront the difficulties and overcome this hard situation together."
Mori also addressed the financial challenges that inevitably lie ahead considering the numerous logistical changes needing to be executed.
"We guess the additional costs will be a huge amount," he said. "We need to make some compromises about income."
Accompanying Mori at the meeting were Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto, vice-president Toshiaki Endo and approximately 20 executives in total. They met at the Harumi Island Triton Square Tower in Tokyo.
Muto said that after the first priority of determining new dates for the Games, securing the venues and Athletes’ Village, ticketing, security and accommodations were other main objectives that the task force would need to confront.
"We need to secure the facilities," Muto said. "Not only the venues but the Athletes' Village, training sites, storage facilities and what not.
"We need to assess whether they will be available when we need them next year.
"There will be additional costs that come with this – and we expect it will probably be massive."
One day prior to the meeting, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike addressed the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games and the work that must be accomplished to find a suitable date for rescheduling and proceed forward.
"We now have a more concrete target to aim for and the athletes, who have been concerned about this situation, have also been provided with a new goal," Koike said. "I am enormously relieved when I think about the feelings of all who have been working for the Games and all who were so looking forward to Tokyo 2020.
"Many various initiatives will be needed to overcome COVID-19 and deliver a successful Games next year. Your ongoing support and cooperation is crucial.
"The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will commit all its resources and work closely with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the national government, and other stakeholders to fully prepare a Games that is safe and secure for the athletes, spectators and everyone," she said.
Also Thursday, the IOC is conducting a conference call with leaders of the 33 summer International Federations, who the task force is consulting regarding the various logistical issues and qualification procedures changes due to the postponement.
Written by Brian Pinelli with reporting from Hironori Hashimoto in Japan
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