IOC Unveils Measures To Ensure ‘post-corona Fit’ Tokyo 2020
The IOC and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee have unveiled a series of measures to ensure the Games are ‘fit for a post-corona world’.
According to the pair, more than 50 measures have been designed to maximise cost savings and increase efficiencies in Games delivery, with more opportunities to be identified in the build-up to the Games.
So far, organisers have split the measures into four main categories: stakeholders, infrastructure, promotion, and other areas of interest.
Initial measures include the reduction of stakeholder personnel attending the Games, streamlining transport services, adjusting spectator activities at competition venues and hosting a number of pre-Games meetings online.
“Built from the principles outlined by the Joint IOC and Tokyo 2020 Steering Committee, these optimisations and simplifications mark an important step towards delivering a safe and successful Games in 2021,” said Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission Chair John Coates.
“We owe it to the public to enact these measures during these challenging times, that’s why we’ve left no stone unturned and will continue to look for further opportunities over the coming months. The unique task of reorganising an Olympic Games has called for the Olympic Movement to be stronger together – this milestone illustrates our collective commitment. The ‘Tokyo Model’ will not only deliver a Games fit for a post-corona world, it will become a blueprint that will benefit future Organising Committees for many years to come.”
Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro added: “Considering the current state of the world, we have been discussing how we will be able to deliver a safe and secure Games that can win public understanding in these challenging times. After we established a broader direction that the Games in 2021 should be simplified, we have been working closely together with the IOC, the IPC and various stakeholders such as IFs, NOCs, NPCs, partners and broadcasters, in every possible area that can contribute to simplifications.
“This process will benefit future society – becoming a role model for future global events as people adapt to living in the new normal. We will make all efforts to ensure that in the future the Tokyo 2020 Games will be a legacy. We will continue to work hard on simplifications towards next year and ask for the continued cooperation of all those involved in the Games.”
They will also coincide with other moves the IOC says it may take in order to keep participants safe from COVID-19. According to the organisation, this could include further measures related to travel, physical distancing, PPE and sanitisation, food and drink, testing and tracing, information provision, and vaccines.
