(ATR) Governor of Miyagi prefecture Yoshihiro Murai says the proposed Naganuma venue for rowing and canoe at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will cost less than originally thought.
Murai is trying to win over the hearts of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and the Tokyo 2020 organizers to stage rowing and canoe in his prefecture opposed to the original plan of holding the events in Tokyo Bay.
Koike visited the proposed venue change that is located more than 250 miles outside of Tokyo on Oct. 15. During her visit, Murai said the cost to build the venue would be between $145-200 million, substantially less than the original estimate of $337 million.
"I’m sure the good aspects of the Naganuma course have made an impression on Governor Koike," Murai told reporters after the tour.
However, Tokyo 2020 organizers and president of World Rowing Jean-Christophe Rolland have emphasized the need to keep the events in the Tokyo Bay and build the Sea Forest Waterway venue.
"All parties including the IOC, the international federations, the national federations, Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government came to the conclusion that Sea Forest Waterway was the most promising and best suited for the hosting of rowing competitions," Tokyo 2020 executive Toshiaki Endo said on Oct. 12 following a meeting with Koike.
Tokyo 2020 cited several problems with moving the venue to Miyagi including infrastructure and transportation issues.
"One of our most important principles is to 'put athletes first’," Endo said. "We do not want to cause any athletes competitive disadvantage because of the distance of the Naganuma site from Tokyo."
Miyagi is one of the prefectures in Japan hit hardest by the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Koike said that hosting some of the Olympic events there would send "a very positive message".
"Based on this visit, I will start considering venues," Koike told reporters after the tour.
Koike will likely discuss the proposed venue change with IOC president Thomas Bach during their meeting on Tuesday and says she will make a final decision by the end of October.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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