Cancelling Games could cost more

CANCELLING the Olympic Games in Tokyo amid the coronavirus pandemic could cost two or three times more than staging the event, the president of the organising committee has warned.

Tokyo 2020 bosses presented a status report on the Games, which have already been delayed by 12 months, to the International Olympic Committee session which was held virtually.

Enthusiasm for the Games in Japan appears to be waning, with almost 30 per cent of respondents to a recent telephone poll of Tokyo residents calling for the event to be cancelled.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori took a dim view of that suggestion and said: “If we cancel the Games the cost will be two times the current cost that is required. We do not decide on the fate of the Olympic Games considering only the convenience of Japan alone.”

Asked to expand on why costs would increase in the event of cancellation, he said: “If you follow the conventional thinking and common knowledge, if the Games are cancelled it’s going to create a lot of waste.

“You have already invested in certain things and if the Games are not going to happen it certainly will result in a big (amount of) waste.

“For example, if the Games are cancelled who is going to make the compensation for various reasons? Who is going to pay the money to compensate for the losses? If you follow the common knowledge you would easily come to two times or even three times more (in additional cost).”

Organisers confirmed that all venues, including those staging the sports and the Olympic and Paralympic village, had now been secured for next year.

TODAY

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