The venues planned in Tokyo for the Olympic Games in 2020 can all be used in 2021. -
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Japanese organizers of the Tokyo-2020 Olympics announced on Friday that the event postponed to summer 2021 due to the coronavirus would cost at least 267 billion yen (2.1 billion euros) more than previously estimated.
Regular tests for athletes, ban on shouting for spectators ... discover the strict rules of the Tokyo Olympics
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According to the organizing committee, this amount is explained by operational costs related to the postponement (171 billion yen) and by the financial impact of the measures against the coronavirus that will be put in place for the Games (96 billion yen).
Costs could swell even further, as Tokyo-2020 said it was preparing an additional reserve budget of 27 billion yen to help cover those expenses.
The announcement comes as the organization tries to generate enthusiasm around the Games since their postponement in March, ensuring that the event can take place in the summer of 2021 even if the pandemic is not under control.
The increased bill for the Games could, however, still cool Japanese public opinion which, according to several polls, is mostly in favor of a further postponement, or even an outright cancellation.
The additional costs will be divided between the Japanese government, the Tokyo Municipality and the Japanese organizing committee.
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