The Coordination Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Organizing Committee of Tokyo 2020 agreed on a series of measures this Friday to make next year's Olympic Games suitable for a post-coronavirus world.
After the postponement of the Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 50 measures have been designed to maximize cost savings and increase efficiency in the delivery of the event.
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, acknowledged the extraordinary progress made by Tokyo 2020, reinforcing his belief that next year's Olympic Games will be the best prepared in history. He also emphasized that the coming months will require flexibility and creativity from all involved. Bach expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders, who are fully aligned with the planned measures.
The meeting provided the Coordination Committee with an opportunity to review the current list of measures, with further opportunities to identify in the period leading up to the Games. These have been divided into four main categories: stakeholders, infrastructure, promotion, and other areas of interest.
Some examples of the initial measures include reducing the staff attending the Games, streamlining transportation services, adjusting spectator activities at competition venues, and organizing several pre-Games meetings online.
"These optimizations and simplifications mark an important step towards delivering a safe and successful Games in 2021. We ask the public to endorse these measures during these difficult times, which is why we have left no stone unturned and will continue to seek new opportunities in the coming months. The unique task of reorganizing an Olympic Games has demanded that the Olympic Movement be stronger together; this milestone illustrates our collective commitment. The 'Tokyo Model' will not only deliver Games suitable for a post-COVID-19 world but will also become a model that benefits future Organizing Committees for many years to come," said John Coates, Chairman of the Tokyo 2020 Coordination Committee.
Considering the current state of the world, we have been discussing how we will be able to deliver safe and secure Games that can gain the understanding of the public in these challenging times. After we established a broader direction that the Games in 2021 should be simplified, we have been working closely with the IOC, IPC, and various stakeholders, such as National Olympic Committees and International Federations," said Mori Yoshiro, President of Tokyo 2020.
The measures were developed with the support of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Tokyo 2020, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), and the Japanese Government. Significant inputs were also obtained from major Olympic interest groups, including National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, international federations, rights-holding broadcasters, media, and TOP partners.
With these now agreed-upon measures, Tokyo 2020 will begin estimating the provisional cost savings that can be achieved, with a view to providing an update at the IOC Executive Board meeting in October.
COVID-19 Countermeasures
The IOC Coordination Committee also received an update on the planning of COVID-19 countermeasures. This detailed how the IOC, together with Tokyo 2020 and the All Partners Task Force, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the IPC, the Japanese Government and TMG, with input from experts in relevant areas, have reviewed a range of scenarios. These consider the situation in Japan and globally, illustrating possible scenarios that could be in place during next year's Games.
This strategic approach has been crucial in identifying potential countermeasures necessary to protect the health of all Games participants. It will also help build a framework for operational planning.
Possible countermeasures have been grouped into seven areas: travel/country access; physical distancing; personal protective equipment/cleaning; food and beverage; testing/tracking/isolation; information provision; and vaccines.
As part of this process, the close cooperation between the IOC, international federations, and other event organizers was highlighted.
Looking ahead, the Committee recognized that as the countermeasures are developed and reviewed, important discussions will continue to be held on a stakeholder-based approach, with particular attention to athletes, Games-related personnel, and spectators. These preparations will continue to evolve in line with monitoring the global situation and its impact on Games preparations. (D)