Tokyo Games likely to be pared down, says JOC chief

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VIDEO SHOWS: OLYMPIC RINGS OUTSIDE OF NATIONAL STADIUM AND JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (JOC) MUSEUM AND HEADQUARTERS / SOUNDBITES FROM JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, YASUHIRO YAMASHITA, SPEAKING ABOUT CHANGING OLYMPICS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES AROUND JOC

SHOWS:

TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 14, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. NATIONAL STADIUM / JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (JOC) MUSEUM AND HEADQUARTERS

2. SIGN READING (English): "JAPAN OLYMPIC MUSEUM"/ JAPAN FLAG ABOVE OLYMPIC RINGS LOGO

3. NATIONAL STADIUM / OLYMPIC RINGS

4. OLYMPIC RINGS

5. JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, YASUHIRO YAMASHITA, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AND BOWING

6. YAMASHITA TAKING SEAT

7. YAMASHITA TAKING OFF MASK

8. YAMASHITA FUMBLING WITH PHONE

9. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, YASUHIRO YAMASHITA, SAYING:

"The Games (used to be) gorgeous and extravagant, which I experienced before, and which (used to be) surprising and moving for everyone. But I don't think the concept of the Games (Tokyo 2020) will pursue these things. The first priority is to be safe and secured. This is the top priority."

11. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, YASUHIRO YAMASHITA, SAYING:

"In regards to the next fiscal year (the financial situation of JOC) will be quite tough. Even though I haven't talked about this with the board of directors, I think there is a high possibility that we may have to consider borrowing money."

13. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, YASUHIRO YAMASHITA, SAYING:

"I am not that smart so I can only say what I really think. But this situation that a president of a host country's National Olympic Committee being changed one year before the Games, I think this shouldn't happen."

15. YAMASHITA STANDING UP

16. YAMASHITA BOWING

STORY: The rearranged Tokyo Olympics are likely to be a pared-down version of recent editions of the four-yearly Games, Japanese Olympic Committee chairman Yasuhiro Yamashita said on Tuesday (July 14).

Japan and the International Olympic Committee postponed the Tokyo Games until 2021 in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, organizers have spoken of trying to simplify the event - which had been due to start in 10 days' time - to reduce costs and ensure athletes' safety.

"The Games (used to be) gorgeous and extravagant, which I experienced before, and which (used to be) surprising and moving for everyone. But I don't think the concept of the Games (Tokyo 2020) will pursue these things. The first priority is to be safe and secured. This is the top priority," Yamashita, a former Olympic gold medallist judoka, said at the JOC headquarters.

Yamashita, installed as JOC chairman in June last year in place of Tsunekazu Takeda, who is being investigated over corruption allegations, said the pandemic was also causing his organisation to suffer financially, and there is a "high possibility" that they may have to consider borrowing money in the year ahead.

The situation under which a president of a host country's Olympic committee is changed a year before the Games "shouldn't happen," he added.

(Production: Jack Tarrant, Hideto Sakai)