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"80% of the venues needed" for rescheduled Tokyo Olympics secured


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Tokyo 2020 organisers say they've now secured 80% of the venues needed in order to host next year's rescheduled Olympic Games.

They've yet to reach an agreement around the Athletes Village, the International Broadcast Centre and the Main Press Centre but negotiations are ongoing.

"We are hoping to use the same venues for the same sports next year," Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told a news conference today.

"Adjustments still remain, but we are able to use 80% of the facilities that were originally supposed to be used last year, they can be used again.

"Regarding Tokyo Big Sight, to be used as the International Press Centre and Main Press Centre, it is also Tokyo-owned but many reservations have already been made by other users for next year," Muto added.

"Therefore, we are working together with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government TMG in coordinating the schedule.”

Olympics operations director Pierre Ducrey has described the issues around the athletes village as their "number one" priority and Muto admits the estimate cost of $6billion to delay the games has forced them to consider scaling down their plans:

“Taking into consideration the new situation economically, socially and medically, we believe that a safe, secure and simple games is the way to go for Tokyo 2020.

“While this is what I say now, it may well be the case that by next summer we could be asked for something festive. But at the current moment, in our preparations, we need to take into consideration whether an overly celebratory event will be widely accepted.”


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