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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Games
organizers have agreed to set up a review process to reduce
ballooning costs and part of that operation will mean changing
venues from those in the original bid plan.
The rowing federation, however, said plans to move the
competition from the capital could not work.
"FISA remains of the view that the Sea Forest Water Sports
Center is the only venue in Japan which can meet the
requirements for an Olympic Games regatta," it said in a
statement.
"FISA therefore looks forward to continuing to find financial
savings and operational efficiencies for Sea Forest."
The IOC said on Tuesday it felt costs for the Games looked "very
high" and would work with organizers to cut them.
The comments came at a meeting between Tokyo Governor Yuriko
Koike and IOC President Thomas Bach, who proposed forming a
working group to find ways to bring costs that could be as much
as $30 billion -- four times the initial estimate -- down.
One of the proposed venue changes would mean moving rowing and
canoe/kayak sprint events away from the capital, with several
options on the table, including Naganuma Lake some 400km north
of Tokyo.
According to Japanese media, the IOC would even consider hosting
the events in the South Korean city of Chungju, where rowing
events were held for the 2014 Asian Games.
"FISA has not been involved in any discussions that might
consider other venues outside of Japan," the federation said.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by John O'Brien)
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