Olympics: Tokyo panel to propose venue changes as costs mount
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[September 28, 2016]
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese
authorities reviewing the cost of hosting the 2020 Summer Olympic
Games will propose major changes for three planned venues -
including moving rowing and canoeing some 400 km (240 miles) from
the capital, media reported on Wednesday.
A Tokyo city government panel will release a report on its findings
on Thursday after recently elected city governor Yuriko Koike
ordered a review of ballooning costs, Kyodo News and other media
said.
The proposed changes, which would require the approval of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) and each sport's international
federation, are the latest in a series of setbacks and broken
promises for organizers who had won the bidding largely on Japan's
reputation for efficiency.
Tokyo's bid proposal said the majority of venues would be within 8
km (5 miles) of the Olympic Village in central Tokyo.
Kyodo said the panel would recommend that the construction of three
venues - for volleyball, swimming, and rowing and canoe sprint - be
reconsidered and that other, existing locations should be able to
host those events.
Public broadcaster NHK said the panel would propose moving the venue
for rowing and canoeing to Tome City in the northeastern prefecture
of Miyagi, due to soaring costs and because not enough measures had
been taken against wind and waves at the site in the original plan.
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government official declined to comment, saying
while they were aware of the media reports they had yet to receive
an official report from the panel.
Tokyo has already shifted the venues for several events out of the
capital, including sailing and basketball. Cycling will take place
in Shizuoka prefecture, about 200 km (125 miles) west of Tokyo.
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A shadow of of Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike is seen on the logo of
Tokyo 2020 Olympic games during the Olympic and Paralympic
flag-raising ceremony at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in
Tokyo, Japan, September 21, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
Tokyo organizers have been grappling with a series of blunders. They
were forced to scrap an initial design for the centerpiece National
Stadium, site of the opening and closing ceremonies, because it was
too expensive, and had to redesign the logo for the games following
accusations of plagiarism.
Last month, Koike delayed the relocation of a Tokyo fish market, the
Tsukiji market, which could jeopardize the construction of a road
linking the Olympic Village and National Stadium.
(Reporting by Chris Gallagher and Elaine Lies; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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