Tokyo Olympics organisers to save over $280 million with ‘simplification’ measures

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VIDEO SHOWS: FILE FOOTAGE OF OLYMPIC RINGS OUTSIDE TOKYO'S NATIONAL STADIUM / TOKYO 2020 OFFICIALS HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER PRESENTING SIMPLIFICATION MEASURES TO IOC / SOUNDBITES FROM TOKYO 2020 CEO TOSHIRO MUTO SPEAKING ABOUT TOKYO BEING ROLE MODEL FOR FUTURE GAMES

SHOWS:

TOKYO, JAPAN (RECENT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF NATIONAL STADIUM

2. VARIOUS OF OLYMPIC RINGS OUTSIDE NATIONAL STADIUM

TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. TOKYO 2020 CEO TOSHIRO MUTO AND TOKYO 2020 PRESIDENT YOSHIRO MORI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO 2020 CEO, TOSHIRO MUTO, SAYING:

"In total, our tentative estimate resulting from these reviews, as of now, is that we will make savings of 30 billion yen, compared to the case without simplification measures."

5. NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO 2020 CEO, TOSHIRO MUTO, SAYING:

"We believe that this work will help to create a model for future global events, including any upcoming Games amid the new normal with which we now live. Therefore, the purpose of the work is not just to reduce costs. We will continue to strive to make the Tokyo 2020 Games a legacy for humanity in the future."

7. NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO 2020 CEO, TOSHIRO MUTO, SAYING:

"As we are in the COVID-19 universe now, what was considered a given is no longer the case. Are we living in a world where having this major, flashy festival is suitable? I think this has been a major turning point in this regard. We have to live in the face of COVID-19, so what should the Games look like in the face of COVID-19? Tokyo will be the first place where this will be demonstrated."

9. MUTO AND MORI LEAVING

STORY: Organisers of the rearranged Tokyo Olympics announced on Wednesday (October 7) that they will be introducing cost-cutting measures to save 30 billion yen ($283 million) as they plan to be a 'role model' for future Games.

In March, the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) postponed the Games until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, the IOC have said they expect to pay $800 million in additional costs because of the delay but Japan-based organisers have been more coy with their numbers.

On Wednesday, members of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee made a virtual presentation to the IOC, where they laid out more than 50 'simplification' measures.

"We believe that this work will help to create a model for future global events, including any upcoming Games amid the new normal with which we now live," Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said following the presentation.

"We will continue to strive to make the Tokyo 2020 Games a legacy for humanity in the future."

These measures include cutting spending on the look of the Games venues, changes to torch relay operations and reducing non-athlete personnel coming to Tokyo.

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said there would be more cost-cutting measures to come.

The last budget given by the organising committee in December 2019, months before postponement, was $12.6 billion dollars. Muto said a new budget would be announced at the end of this year.

(Production: Jack Tarrant)