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A panel set up by Tokyo’s Governor says the cost of hosting
the Olympics in 2020 has blown out more than four-fold since
Japan bid for the Summer Games.
In 2013, the Olympic Bid Committee gave an estimate then that
the event would cost US$9 billion to stage. But now that figure
has been revised and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
estimates the real amount is closer to US$39 billion.
Yuriko Koike was elected Governor on July 31 and asked a panel
of experts to report back to her about where savings could be
made. The panel handed down its report, recommending that
the venues for some sports should be changed.
It recommends that the plans for the aquatics centre - the
site for the Olympic swimming events - be pared back or
abandoned altogether in favour of refurbishing an existing
swimming centre. The panel also raised concerns about the
plans to build a customised volleyball stadium which the panel
said it won’t get much use after the games.
Tokyo’s Olympics are still four years away, but already they
have suffered huge embarrassment along the way.
First there was a scandal about the plagiarised logo for the
Games - the Games organising committee said there were too
many doubts over the emblem for it to be used.
A Belgian artist had complained that his design was stolen.
Then came a replacement of the original stadium design. If
that wasn’t embarrassing enough, it was then revealed that
the new design didn’t have an Olympic cauldron.
Governor Koike said she would review the options presented
by the panel quickly and decide how to proceed.
Any changes she suggests would have to be approved by the
individual sports federations and then again approved by the
International Olympic Committee.
2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS BUST BUDGET
The International Olympic Committee has met Brazilian judicial
authorities investigating a case of alleged ticket scalping during
the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and provided information.
The official told Reuters the IOC had not been asked to provide
information but took the initiative, with its lawyers meeting
officials investigating the case which has centred around
suspended senior IOC member Patrick Hickey.
Hickey, who was also the head of the Olympic Council of
Ireland (OCI), was released from Rio’s Bangu 10 maximum
security prison last month but must remain in Brazil until the
case is heard.
He was arrested on 10 August at a luxury beachfront hotel
during the Rio Games. Police accused Hickey, 71, of leading
the operation with PRO10 to funnel tickets for the Rio Games
through THG Sports to raise 10 million reais (US$3 million)
after jacking up prices. All involved have denied wrongdoing.
A Rio de Janeiro court has accepted prosecutors’ charges
against Hickey, Kevin Mallon, a director of THG, and nine
others. All involved deny any wrongdoing.
Authorities told Reuters that they believe the ring had
operated for around eight years and was preparing for other
Olympic events such as the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.
The ring appears to have operated at the Sochi 2014 Winter
Olympics and the 2012 London Games, Rio police investigators
said.
IOC GIVES INFORMATION TO BRAZIL AUTHORITIES IN PATRICK HICKEY CASE