Volunteer uniforms for 10,000 people remain in storage

It was found that 10,000 uniforms purchased by local governments nationwide for 20,000 to 40,000 yen per set for volunteers at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are stored without being distributed.

Due to a series of declines, local governments have requested that the Games Organizing Committee show a policy to effectively utilize the tournament goods, saying that the rules related to rights are complicated.

What is kept in storage is the uniform of "Urban Volunteer" who provides guidance on transportation and sightseeing in the city at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Eleven local governments nationwide that hired city volunteers purchased uniforms that included polo shirts, hats, jackets, bags, etc. from sporting goods manufacturers through the Games Organizing Committee.

I bought at least 48,000 people, the price per set is about 20,000 to 40,000 yen, and the total budget is about 1.7 billion yen.

However, due to the postponement of the tournament for one year and the spread of the new coronavirus infection, it was declined one after another, and it was found by interviewing the local government that at least 10,300 people were stored without being distributed.

The main breakdown is Tokyo for 5890 people, Saitama prefecture for 1200 people, Chiba prefecture for 990 people, Yokohama city for 500 people, and so on.

In Tokyo, it is stored at a facility in Shibuya, and in Yokohama, it is put in about 100 boxes of cardboard and placed in the office of the department in charge, and the height of the stack is about the height of an adult. ..

Regarding this situation, the Games Organizing Committee commented, "I think that each local government is considering how to handle excess inventory."

On the other hand, local governments have requested that the Games Organizing Committee show a policy for effective utilization, saying that rights related to goods with the Games emblem cannot be judged due to complicated rules.

Yokohama City "I want to use it in cooperation with the Games Organizing Committee"

The city of Yokohama has hired approximately 2,700 urban volunteers who are active around the venues for baseball, softball, and soccer at the Olympic Games.

In July, I bought a uniform for about 30,000 yen, which was a set of polo shirts, jackets, shoes, etc. for 2,700 people, but due to the postponement of the tournament for one year, those who got a job or moved during that time I declined one after another.

As a result, there are no distribution destinations for uniforms for 500 people.

Riki Kurata, chief of the Yokohama City Olympic and Paralympic Promotion Division, said, "In the two years since I placed the order, some people declined due to various ideas. I bought it at public expense, so I thought about the following so as not to waste it. We have to keep going. We think that we need to handle it carefully, and we want to use it in the correct way in cooperation with the Games Organizing Committee, not just ourselves. "

Organization Committee Expert "I want you to send the results of discussions with the IOC, etc."

Yuko Sakita, a journalist and chairman of the "Sustainability Discussion Group" established by the Games Organizing Committee inviting experts to discuss the fact that a large number of volunteer uniforms are still stored, said, "The Tokyo Olympics. Emphasis is placed on sustainability, and the goal is to reuse and recycle 99% of the procured goods. Since this uniform was purchased using taxes, many people in society are thinking about how to use it. It is important to make people happy. I want you to find a meaningful transfer destination, such as using it at international competitions or donating it to elementary and junior high school students and high school students near the venue. "

Since the volunteer uniforms this time have the emblems of the Olympics and Paralympics, it is necessary to consult with the IOC = International Olympic Committee etc. regarding the handling, Mr. Sakita said, "I think it will take time to consider, but The Games Organizing Committee wants you to properly communicate what the results of the discussions with the IOC and other stakeholders were and what you want the local government to do. "

The uniform of "Meeting Volunteer" is "Refrain from answering"

Initially, the local government gathered 48,000 people for "city volunteers" who provide guidance on transportation and sightseeing in the city, but more than 10,000 people declined, and uniforms for that amount have no distribution destination. I did.

On the other hand, volunteers who wore blue-graded shirts and other activities at the Tokyo Olympic Games venue and the Olympic Village, which ended on the 8th of this month, are called "Meeting Volunteers" and were hired by the Games Organizing Committee.

Initially, about 80,000 volunteers, including the Paralympics, were scheduled to be active, but about 10,000 of them declined.

The Games Organizing Committee has stated that it will "refrain from answering" regarding the number and handling of uniforms that could not be distributed due to the decline.