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 The mishaps, which have left a gaping hole in the ground where
Japan's former National Stadium stood and a badly delayed building
schedule, have also blackened Japan's reputation as a place that can
get things done -- a reputation that helped it win the hosting
rights for the Summer Games two years ago over Madrid and Istanbul.
But IOC Vice President John Coates told a news conference after the
governing body's fourth review of Tokyo's preparations that all was
going well and they saw positive strides.
"It's clear to us that in the two days we've had here that the close
relationship between all of the parties for the preparation of your
games is going from strength to strength," he added.
He said they were particularly pleased with the five sports Tokyo
had chosen to present to the IOC for inclusion in the 2020 Summer
games, saying that they emphasized a broad range of interests
including those designed to appeal to young people.
Asked about the Olympics logo, which was scrapped after plagiarism
accusations arose, he said that it had been discussed and he was
"impressed" by the openness of the new selection process.
Questions about the 2020 logo arose immediately after its July
unveiling when a Belgian designer said it was too similar to his
logo for a theater, demanding its use be halted and subsequently
filing a lawsuit in local court.
Designer Kenjiro Sano denied copying the logo, but the ensuing
uproar caused him to eventually ask that it be withdrawn since its
reputation was too damaged for use. A new emblem will be chosen in
open competition.
The decision came less than a month after Tokyo scrapped its plans
for the new National Stadium, set to be the centerpiece of the
Games, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to soothe public anger
over costs that had more than doubled from original estimates.
The decision prompted concern from the IOC, which said it would
oversee the new tender, but Coates said he had been assured it would
be completed by January 2020, as the IOC had requested, leaving time
for tests and other preparations.
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A second competition for the stadium design is set to be held later
this year, with construction to start early next year and completion
slated for early in 2020, a year later than originally planned. Zaha
Hadid Architects, which came up with the first design, has opted not
to take part again.
Tokyo has also reneged on a pledge to keep most venues within eight
kilometers of the Olympic Village in order to cut costs. Some are so
far away athletes will have to stay in separate quarters.
But the city got some encouragement from London mayor Boris Johnson,
whose city hosted the 2012 Games and who said at a news conference
that London had confidence that Tokyo will be able to pull it off.
"Large parts of the media, large parts of the media will remain
resolutely skeptical, if not hostile..." he said in a later speech.
"Suddenly, as the event itself draws near, their mood will change
and it will be as if the sun has come out."
(Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; editing by Sudipto
Ganguly)
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