Tokyo panel head says 2020 organizers not co-operating
TOKYO — The head of a Tokyo government cost-cutting panel has criticized 2020 Olympic organizers for not co-operating on recommendations designed to reduce spiraling expenses for the games.
The panel has said the cost of the Tokyo Olympics could exceed $30 billion — four times the initial estimate — unless drastic cuts are made.
One suggestion was to move the rowing and canoeing venue to an existing facility in Miyagi prefecture, 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Tokyo. That came after the projected cost for the original Sea Forest venue on Tokyo Bay soared to nearly 50 billion yen ($480 million), seven times the initial estimate.
Tokyo organizers countered by saying moving to Miyagi could actually drive up costs as that venue lacks Olympic-standard infrastructure.