Delayed Tokyo games viewed as the perfect pick-me-up after pandemic
A delayed Tokyo Olympics could be "the ultimate celebration of the world coming together" after the catastrophic impactofthecoronaviruspandemic, according to those who haveworkedonGamesmarketing and delivery.
The travails of the InternationalOlympicCommitteeand the Tokyo 2020 organisers in this matter could on the face of it deter future Games bidders, with both having faced criticism in the time it has taken to reach this point.
But with the Games rescheduledtotakeplacenolater thansummer2021,thereisthe hope that it could be a celebration the world is ready for.
"Imaybeabitofalonevoice at the moment but I hope I'm proved right, the Tokyo Olympic Games will eventually be the greatest Olympic Games ever," Michael Payne, the former head of commercial at the
IOC, said.
"It's the ultimate celebration of the world coming together,that'swhattheOlympics has always represented.
"The world is going to be looking for a celebration to move on from this difficult time, and I think the audiences and the Olympic brand will come through even stronger."
The bidding landscape had changed in recent years anyway, with less of an emphasis on major infrastructure projects. Los Angeles' successful bid for the 2028 Games, for example, will entirely use preexisting venues rather than anything being purpose-built.
Sujit Jasani, the director of Vero Communications which worked with Paris on its successfulbidforthe2024Games, said: "There's less of a formal bidding arms race and there's more flexibility in the bidding process, where cities can consult over the nature of the Games that they wish to host.
"Thoseconversations,even for something that is way into the future, for 2032, which are the next Games to be decided, there is already ongoing dialogue with a number of cities that were interested to host.
"So the future looks fairly robust and healthy for the IOC fromthatpointofview,youhad citieslikeBrisbaneandJakarta looking to come forward with an offer to host the Games and I'm sure that will still be there.
"Further down the line for 2032, there will be a moment when this crisis is over that it could be a great cause for celebrationofwhattheworldwent through together.
"Veryfewmajorcrisesactually impact the entire planet, but in that spirit I think you'll seetheglobalcommunitycomingtogetherforsomethingthat heals and helps brings joy"