(ATR) The International Volleyball Federation hopes to avoid relocating its 2020 venue through dialogue with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
A TMG document shown to Around the Rings expressed worry over the long-term viability of a new volleyball arena built for the Games. The project is estimated to cost $400 million, and replace a previous arena in the Ariake area.
The TMG says the venue’s limited legacy outweighs the costs. There are two areas of concern for the TMG including "concerns about economic viability after the Games," and "[lack of competitiveness] as an art or concert venue."
To address the issue, the TMG says it will consider "[leveraging] existing arenas outside Tokyo if available."
An FIVB spokesperson told ATR in a statement that it is "keen to adopt constructive and positive dialogue," with the TMG over the venue, but stands by the current plan. The statement said that FIVB believes the Ariake arena is the "most cost effective solution," for the sport during the Games.
"The FIVB remains very concerned regarding recent media reports that the indoor volleyball venue for Tokyo 2020 could be moved from Ariake," the statement said. "We are very apprehensive about the impact of any proposed change on the success of the competition.
"We are keen to adopt constructive and positive dialogue regarding the indoor volleyball venue but we also determined not to let this historic opportunity for Japan, Tokyo, the Olympic Movement, FIVB and volleyball fans pass us by."
Volleyball is one of three venues under review from the TMG as part of Governor Koike’s cost-cutting measures. The TMG has begun to investigate alternatives to the canoeing/rowing and aquatics venues. Tokyo 2020, the IOC, international sport federations, and national sport federations have all called for finding solutions to keep the current venue plan in place, while cutting costs.
So far Governor Koike has inspected an alternate rowing site in Miyagi prefecture, although the governor of Saitama prefecture has suggested another possible alternative site.
Miyagi prefecture is located in Northeastern Japan, and was one of the hardest-hit prefectures from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. IOC President Thomas Bach has suggested holding events in the region for the Games to show the development of the area.
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
