Tokyo Governor May Meet IOC Chief on Olympic Venue Review

Tokyo, Oct. 10 (Jiji Press)--Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is arranging a meeting with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Oct. 18 during his visit to the Japanese capital, informed sources said Monday. Koike and Bach are expected to exchange views on a recent proposal by a Tokyo government-commissioned panel for a drastic review of three planned new facilities for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of an effort to cut back on the costs for the quadrennial events. The three facilities are for rowing and canoe sprint, swimming and volleyball. On Saturday, Koike plans to take a firsthand look at an existing venue for rowing in Tome, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, that was proposed by the panel as a substitute for the new facility currently planned to be constructed in Tokyo Bay area. At a news conference on Friday, Koike said Bach is understood to think that the sustainability of the Olympics has been called into question due to growing expense. It is a responsibility of the host city to make efforts to prevent questions about an international sporting event, Koike said. Bach is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at an international conference in Tokyo on Oct. 20. END