Thomas Bach to visit Tokyo next week, a reminder of the long road ahead
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International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach will be visiting Japan next week. The organizers of Tokyo 2020 Olympics will happily welcome him. However, despite an unwavering support in front of the public, the IOC president is sure to ask demanding questions in private.
In March this year, he and then Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe had decided to postpone the Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be Bach’s first visit to Tokyo after the postponement of the Games was announced.
Bach is hopeful for Tokyo Olympics
Last week, Tokyo hosted a successful four-nation gymnastics meet. It tested many COVID-19 countermeasures with a view to prepare for Olympics. Also, the news of a potentially successful vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. has given some relief to the Tokyo organisers.
During the meet, Bach said through a video message, “You are also setting an example that sport can be organised safely even under ongoing health restrictions,“
“…Giving us confidence in our preparation for future events, in particular of course with an eye to the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” he added further.
Before the postponement decision, Bach had heaped praise on the Japanese capital as “most prepared” Games host city. The former fencer is expected to give a positive public reaction this time around as well.
Thomas Bach may demand answers for two key areas
But despite any statement Thomas Bach will give publicly in his two-day trip, he would be pushing the Tokyo organisers to come up with concrete plans for the rearranged Games. He would also be looking for further cost-reduction measures.
There are two key areas which Bach will need answers for. Namely, whether spectators will be allowed inside the venue and how they were planning to accommodate 11,000 participating athletes from around the world.
“It (the trip) is important because we are now coming to a crucial stage of putting this toolbox together with COVID-19 counter-measures to get the feeling what will be needed next year,” Bach said on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said that the government was planning on allowing athletes into the country without mandating a 14-days isolation.
During the visit, which begins on Monday, Bach is expected to meet with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Bach will award the latter’s predecessor Abe with the Olympic Order, the IOC’s highest accolade. It will be awarded to him for his support of the Games.
Bach will also meet Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and visit the newly-built National Stadium. He will hold a news conference alongside Tokyo 2020 organizers.
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