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The new creative team will be headed by Hiroshi
Sasaki, who was one of seven directors previously responsible
for the opening and closing events.
Sasaki said his team was now running on a tight schedule to
revamp plans for "simplified" ceremonies.
"Conditions are fairly tough... But, at this stage, honestly,
progress isn't being made yet," Sasaki told a press conference.
The Games, originally scheduled to start this summer, were
postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has
severely disrupted the international sporting calendar.
Since then, organisers and government officials have been
looking at ways to cut costs, simplify the Games and safeguard
athletes and spectators. Still, there has been lingering doubt
about the viability of holding a large-scale, global event as
the pandemic continues to rage.
Although the ceremony planners were short on details, Sasaki
said he pictured the ceremonies as an opportunity to show the
world a message of "breakthrough or hope" during the pandemic.
On Tuesday, organisers said they would spend $900 million on
measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus at next year's
Games.
(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski, Ju-min Park; Editing by Sam
Holmes)
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