IOC, Tokyo 2020 form joint steering panel to deliver Games in 2021

LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 have have announced the establishment of a joint steering committee to deliver the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021. 

The committee was announced following an executive project review teleconference featuring by IOC Coordination Commission chair John Coates, Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi, Tokyo 2020 president Yoshirō Mori and chief executive Toshirō Mutō.

Governance
The meetings of the Joint Steering Committee will be held whenever necessary, in order to ensure permanent coordination and efficient decision-making.

Supporting this Joint Steering Committee, Tokyo 2020 and the IOC will each have their own respective task forces: the “Here we go” Task Force on the IOC side, and the “New Launch” Task Force on the Tokyo 2020 side.

Principles
The key elements of the planning for 2021 should replicate the existing Games Delivery Plan for 2020. Particular focus will be placed on the venues and the competition schedule, which were originally agreed by all stakeholders as the best plan for the 2020 edition. On this basis, the Japanese side including Tokyo 2020 will request that each planned venue owner organises the Games according to this schedule on the new dates in 2021. The Japanese side will also seek understanding for these preparations.

On the basis of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and all Olympic and Paralympic Movement stakeholders, in conjunction with Japanese side including the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, will explore all opportunities to optimise and streamline the scope and service levels at the Games, and reduce the costs that have been caused by the postponement. The IOC and the Japanese side, including the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, will continue to assess and discuss jointly about the respective impacts caused by the postponement.

A number of measures addressing the potential impact of COVID-19 will be incorporated into the Games Delivery Plan for the Games in 2021.

Timeline
The details of planning for Tokyo 2020 in 2021 are being examined this month with a view to establishing a new roadmap for the Games by May 2020, in order to then align resources and priorities accordingly.