Lausanne (AFP)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released an envelope of 800 million dollars (740 million EUR) to overcome the crisis linked to the coronavirus which has a "very severe" impact on the Olympic movement, warned its president Thomas Bach on Thursday.

Mr. Bach, speaking at the end of a meeting of the IOC Executive Committee held by videoconference, said that USD 650 million is intended to cover the additional costs linked to the postponement of the Olympic Games from Tokyo to 2021, then that 150 M USD will go to the Olympic movement, in particular the international federations largely affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has already killed more than 300,000 people, has had "a very severe financial impact worldwide, on society, governments and of course the Olympic Games, the Olympic movement as a whole and in particular the IOC "said Mr. Bach at a press conference call.

The executive of the body drew up an inventory of fixtures and "approved an envelope of 800 M USD to face the financial consequences of the crisis of Covid-19", added Mr. Bach.

On March 24, the IOC announced the postponement by one year of the Tokyo Olympics originally scheduled from July 24 to August 9, 2020, a first for the modern era Olympics in peacetime. The Tokyo Games are now rescheduled from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

This postponement of the Olympic Games will entail additional costs which are still very difficult to assess, which will have to be shared between the IOC and the organizing committee.

According to the latest figures published, the budget for the Tokyo Olympics must be established at 12.6 billion USD shared between the Organizing Committee (Cojo), the government and the city of Tokyo. The IOC provides significant funding to the Cojo.

- "lower the costs" -

To minimize the additional costs, the IOC and the Cojo "are in close contact with the working group created and we are not ruling out any leads in order to reduce costs while maintaining the spirit of the Games and the quality of the competition" , further assured Mr. Bach.

One of the main difficulties is to guarantee the availability of competition sites and the Olympic Village for one more year, whose accommodation was intended to be sold just after the end of the Olympic Games.

Regarding the Olympic Village, "the efforts are monumental," assured Christophe Dubi, director general of the Games. "It is a difficult mission, but we are confident, the work is going very well."

While the severity and unpredictable extent of the pandemic are fueling doubts about the hosting of the Games, Mr. Bach has expressed his confidence: "We are fully working on the success of the Tokyo Olympics which will open on July 23, 2021 ... In order to have Games in a safe environment for all participants. "

The IOC also validated Thursday the "virtual" holding of the 136th session on July 17. This session broadcast live, will be held remotely and will allow the hundred members to validate certain decisions via a secure electronic voting system.

© 2020 AFP