The idea of ​​"simplification"-Shaking of the Tokyo Olympics and Para-June 22, 17:56

As concerns about the second and third waves of the spread of new coronavirus infection continue, the way the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held next year in Tokyo is about to change. The keyword is “simplification”.
I interviewed what the Organizing Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and other related parties are currently considering. (Sports News Department reporter Daisuke Nakamura Yukinori Honma Misako Imai)

Unusual simplification to eliminate concerns about holding

On the 10th of this month (June), the Games Organizing Committee and the IOC = International Olympic Committee have agreed to simplify the Games. The aim is to reduce the additional cost, which is said to be 300 billion yen for the first time in the history of postponing the competition, and to prevent infection with the new coronavirus.

The new coronavirus infection spread even after the postponement of March, and as of June 19, the number of infected people worldwide was 8.4 million and the number of deaths exceeded 450,000. With the prospect of ending the infection and developing an effective vaccine out of sight, concerns continue to smolder, "Is the competition really possible?"

The simplification that the two parties have agreed has a clear purpose to cancel the theory of cancellation next year.

At the press conference that announced the simplification, Chairman Yoshiro Mori of the Games Organizing Committee insisted, "There is no discussion of cancellation. It is not correct to discuss hypothetical scenarios with hypothesis."

Concerns about sponsor companies

Last month (May), during an interview with the sponsor company of the tournament, IOC Chairman Bach said at the same time that it would be unavoidable if it could not be held next year, so there is a specific concern about the cancellation. There was a company that exhaled, and viewed safety and security as the "condition" of the event.

Secretary-General Muto of the Organizing Committee stated, "It is difficult for a sponsor to judge if the tournament will be held well next year. I would like to explain it carefully." It shows that it will strive to dispel concerns.

If you are not safe and secure, you cannot hold the competition. In other words, simplification is positioned as a concrete method that must be tackled in order not to cancel the tournament under the new coronavirus.

List of simplifications Advanced items

One month before "simplification of the tournament" was launched. The Organizing Committee and the IOC were discussing items for cost reduction before and after the long holidays. NHK got part of that list.

There are ▼ reduction of the number of spectators and seats assuming anti-corona virus measures, ▼ stopping ticket sales, ▼ reviewing the concept of the opening and closing ceremony and reducing the scale, ▼ and the Olympic Village and the Olympic Family. It was also mentioned that the services for IOC members and officers of international competition groups were reviewed.

From these, about 250 items have been examined, and the priority of review has been divided into three ranks, A, B, and C. According to the people related to the tournament, some people call A, which they are putting the most effort, as the “gold list”.

Among these are possible proposals such as the reduction of participants in the “Olympic Family” and the withdrawal of the entrance ceremony to the Olympic Village, which has been carried out for each national and regional team.

However, such discussions may cause significant opposition from stakeholders such as international sports organizations and Olympic committees in each field.

It was unclear how far it could actually be achieved from the inside of the Organizing Committee, who said, "I agree with the general opinion, I would disagree with each other."

In addition, "If the promotion is only for cost reduction and it becomes a "shoboi" tournament, the sponsor may leave, and no one will go to the opening and closing ceremony with expensive tickets," said the negative image of simplification. Some voices are worried.

Is it possible to be an "audience"?

Still, in the world transformed by the new coronavirus, it is said that it is important to hold a tournament if the power of sports that moves the hearts of people with emotion from the viewpoint of athletes, which is the essence of the tournament, is meaningful There is a strong feeling in the organizing committee.

Therefore, a part of the Organizing Committee is starting to think about the "audience" competition.

The greatest merit of making the audience unspectated is that the lives and safety of the audience are not threatened. This is not only a countermeasure against the infection of the new coronavirus, but also a countermeasure against the intense heat that has been a concern in the past.

It also eliminates the anxiety inside, saying, "Only one or two people can collapse due to heat stroke while watching a game. In the worst case, there is a risk of life."

In addition, if there are no spectators, you will lose 90 billion yen in watching ticket revenue, but you will not need temporary seats, security guards, heat measures for spectators, etc. The calculation of whether or not it also works.

However, the disadvantage is that the motivation of the athletes in the competition is reduced. Moreover, the momentum for the Tokyo Games is lacking, such as the disappointment of the business world who expects tourists who have already purchased spectator tickets and foreign tourists. Therefore, there is a great sense of resistance among those involved in the tournament.

There is also an opinion that the audience will be limited to those who live in the country in anticipation that the virus infection is converging at least in the country, or that the audience will be included only at the opening and closing ceremony that symbolizes the competition.

However, if an unseen audience decides just before the tournament, the meaning of cost reduction diminishes, such as temporary construction work being completed and various contract cancellation fees incurred. This is an unaided tournament, which is also the most symbolic of simplification, but the challenges to its realization are significant.

Still, the deficit, the burden of citizens? People?

Despite the extraordinary efforts to simplify the tournament, it is inevitable that the tournament cost of 1,350 billion yen will increase. The Organizing Committee also made a series of voices saying, "In the end, it will be in the red."

If it becomes a deficit, the burden will be on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government due to the contract with the host city, but due to an unexpected delay, it is unclear who will bear the additional cost. Not only Tokyo, but also the parties who want to reduce the cost burden. The most outgoing is IOC.

IOC Chairman Bach revealed last month (May) at a press conference after the board meeting that it will contribute $650 million in additional costs associated with the postponement of the Tokyo Games, and approximately 70 billion yen in Japanese yen did. However, the Organizing Committee is not trying to make the IOC think. It is said that the content is not one that has been discussed in advance with the Organizing Committee, but rather a unilateral transmission.

One executive pointed out that "70 billion yen shouldn't be paid to Japan to run the tournament." “The IOC is overwhelmed with what the IOC has to do. Some may come into the Organizing Committee, but I don't expect it at this point,” said another executive.

On the other hand, Tokyo is the host city. We are full of measures against the new coronavirus, which is an urgent issue. The cost of the measures exceeds 1 trillion yen.

The source of financial resources is the fiscal adjustment fund, which can be said to be “savings in the capital” to prepare for sudden expenditures. As of the end of March, it had reached a record high of 934.5 billion yen, but the new coronavirus measures are expected to significantly reduce it to about 50 billion yen.

It is said that Tokyo is financially stable, but it is necessary to prepare for the second and third waves of viruses, and we want to reduce the burden.

A person related to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said, "This postponement has been announced by Prime Minister Abe, so it does not mean that the state will do nothing. If there is not a certain amount of burden, the citizens' feelings will not have a certain amount" I want you to do it.

On the other hand, it cannot be said that the country will easily make an additional burden. The country originally bears 150 billion yen for the Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympics, including a part of the expenses for the maintenance of the national stadium and the costs of the Paralympics.

It is possible to think that if the Paralympic expenses increase due to the postponement, it will be an appropriate burden, but we are cautious about further cost burden, and the person in charge of the country said, “First of all, we will discuss with the Organizing Committee and related parties such as Tokyo and IOC. I want to have them wait."

The appearance of the tournament will be an opportunity to re-question the Olympics in autumn

The outlook for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics is still uncertain, given the new theme of revival and recovery from the new coronavirus, which originated from the recovery Olympics from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

At the board meeting of the Organizing Committee this month (June), at the time of the tournament, about 500 host town municipalities nationwide asked the athletes from overseas to practice, and after checking that there was no infection, entered the athlete village. The idea of ​​being asked was also shown.

The Organizing Committee plans to put together a cost reduction plan in collaboration with the IOC in September, and plans to put together a new coronavirus countermeasure within the year.

Secretary-General Muto puts the hope that "what is really needed based on the experience of the new coronavirus. It is desirable if we think of a new tournament, a tournament that seems to be Tokyo, and it will lead to a legacy."

What kind of tournament will be shown?

Sports news department reporter
Daisuke Nakamura
Joined the
political department in 2006 and was in charge of the Sports Agency and the Tokyo Olympics Para Organizing Committee.

Sports News Department Reporter
Yukinori Honma
Joined the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2004 as a Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and is currently in charge of the Tokyo Olympic Para Para Organizing Committee.

Sports News Department Reporter
Misako Imai
Joined in 2001 In
addition to the Tokyo Olympic Para Para Organizing Committee , he was in charge of sports climbing and wheelchair tennis.