Tokyo eyeing drastic overhaul as costs surge

TOKYO: Tokyo could be forced to downsize or relocate three venues for the 2020 Olympic Games in drastic cost-slashing measures, the city's new governor said Thursday.
A group of academics and business leaders submitted a proposal to governor Yuriko Koike which included plans to overhaul the swimming, volleyball and kayak facilities, currently estimated at some US$1.5 billion (RM6 billion).
It comes after a series of embarrassing problems for Tokyo organisers, including the scrapping of plans for the Olympic stadium and a French probe into alleged corruption.
Koike swept into office in July, immediately ordering officials to rein in ballooning Olympics costs, which one expert predicted could surpass ¥3 trillion (US$29.5 billion).
"I take this report seriously," Koike told reporters.
"After discussing it with the people in charge (of the Games), I will make a decision as soon as possible.
"We can't pass this burden on to Tokyoites."
Professor Shinichi Ueyama of Keio University, who was on the panel, warned the initial Games cost of ¥734 billion would skyrocket past ¥3 trillion.
"Surprisingly there is no chief executive, and no chief financial officer" to control the budget, he said.
The 97-page report noted that the ¥49 billion Sea Forest Waterway rowing and kayaking venue was opposed by some athletes over access and wind concerns, and that there was "no concrete financial plan for its use after the Olympics".
An existing venue in Miyagi prefecture, some 400km north of Tokyo, could be used as a potential alternative location, it said.
Experts also proposed using an existing swimming pool in Tokyo rather than build a new Olympic aquatics centre at an estimated cost of ¥68.3 billion.
"In theory there must be a number of alternative venues other than a (new) aquatics centre. It is a big problem that no consideration about such alternatives has taken place."
The group also questioned whether it was necessary to spend a further ¥40 billion on a new volleyball venue.
It called plans for using Olympic venues beyond 2020 "without focus and very abstract".
The report comes after Rome mayor Virginia Raggi slammed her city's bid to host the 2024 Games as "irresponsible" and refused to give it her support.
Tokyo's preparations for the 2020 Games have been plagued by controversy since beating out Madrid and Istanbul in the bidding race three years ago.
Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe tore up initial plans for the Olympic stadium amid public anger over its US$2 billion price tag.
Tokyo organisers then had to scrap the original Games logo after accusations of plagiarism.
Most worryingly, French prosecutors launched an investigation into US$2 million in payments they suspect were made to help Tokyo secure the Olympics.
Japanese Olympic officials have strenuously denied any wrongdoing. — AFP