IOC expects $800M bill for delayed Tokyo Games
Plus, Lions quarterback Stafford too busy being a dad to worry about trade rumours
The International Olympic Committee expects to bear costs of up to US$800 million for its part in the organization of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now due to be staged next year, IOC president Thomas Bach said on Thursday.
In March, the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government decided to delay the Games, which were due to start this July, for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed 300,000 people worldwide.
“We anticipate we will have to bear costs of up to $800 million for our part and responsibilities in the organization of the postponed Games Tokyo 2020,” Bach told a conference call at the end of the IOC’S executive board meeting.
He said out of the amount that would be set aside, $650 million would go toward the organization of the Games next year and $150 million to support international federations and national Olympic committees.
International federations rely on the Olympic Games contribution every four years, and with a ban on sports competitions worldwide, all of their major sources of revenue have dried up in recent months.
“We are discussing with international federations the consequences of the postponement ... and the postponement of the share of the international federations from the commercial success of the Games,” Bach said. “We are very well advanced in these discussions and we will continue to assist.”
The figure announced by Bach does not include any costs Tokyo Games organizers and the Japanese government have to incur due to the 12-month delay of the world’s biggest multi-sports event.
“We are assessing and continue to discuss jointly the respective impact caused by the postponement,” Bach said. “What you have seen today, this envelope of $800 million, is the assessment for the IOC side.
“This discussion with the (Tokyo Games) organizing committee will continue in the way we have agreed.”
The IOC last month was forced to remove a comment from its website that referred to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when discussing costs for the postponement, following objections from the Games’ organizers.
Bach said the first priority now is to secure the Olympic venues, including the athletes’ village and the media centres, for another year.
“This is not an easy undertaking. Our Japanese friends are working with full force on this,” he said.
Bach declined to speculate on a possible new delay to the Games if the coronavirus is still a major concern next year.
More than 90 vaccines are being developed globally, with eight in the clinical trial phase. But experts say the process could take years and may not happen at all.
“We are now working with full engagement for the success of Tokyo 2020 in 2021 and to have these Games in a safe environment for all participants,” Bach said.
“We are one year and two months away from the opening of these postponed Olympic Games. We should not fuel any speculation on any future development.”
LIONS QB AVOIDS RUMOURS
Matthew Stafford ignored trade rumours prior to the NFL draft because the Detroit Lions’ franchise quarterback didn’t hear them.
Three kids under the age of five and a pregnant wife while on stayat-home orders in Georgia took all the attention the 32-year-old could muster.
Then his wife, Kelly, caught wind of the reports the Lions wanted Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and suddenly everyone was listening.
Stafford said he briefly discussed the rumours, shot down multiple times by the Lions, with head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn. He was immediately at ease with what the team was doing.
“I really don’t pay too much attention to them (rumours),” Stafford said Thursday. “I pay less attention to them than my wife does. But it’s something that doesn’t bother me.
“I’m here. I want to be here. I love being a Detroit Lion. I love leading this team. So all that kind of stuff is just kind of out there to be out there. It’s a slow news month at that point, and I’m just happy to be where I am and ready to deal with this off-season the way it is and try to make the best of the season that I hope happens.”
Stafford has played host to a few wide receivers in Georgia to stay sharp, but otherwise is worried about winning at parenting.
“As much dad time as I’ve ever had,” he said. “It’s been awesome.”
Stafford said he is concerned about returning to football during the COVID -19 pandemic. His family is lying low after travelling to Florida and California before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown and sorting through the same uncertainty many others have encountered.
“I love playing football,” Stafford said. “I don’t know what I would do in a fall without it, as I think a lot of Americans probably would say the same. But being involved with the game, I love it, and I’m hoping it is safe enough for all of us to get back out there.
“I don’t want to put people at undue risk for us to go play a game. But at the same time, if we can find a way to make it safe for everybody, I would love to obviously be out there as soon as we can.”