Tokyo, Japan – On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission (EC) visit to Tokyo continued – and on day 3 the discussion was around mundane topics such as transportation and accommodation logistics and media operations.
Venue visits in the afternoon included the Seaside Park Hockey Stadium, the Kasai Slalom Course and the Tokyo Big Sight.
Tokyo has one of the highest accommodation rates in the world, and scores on last year’s evaluation report reflected this – so although the meetings were held in private, it’s clear this discussion went well for the bid. Presentations around transportation plans, however, were likely more intense.
Dr. Takayuki Kishii, the Director of the Japan Transportation Planning Association, spoke to the IOC about transportation plans for the Olympics and at a press conference following his presentation he seemed confident about Tokyo’s ability to manage transportation logistics at Games time in the city with over 13 million people and a complex web of roads.
“Tokyo has a sufficient capacity to guarantee safe and stable operations,” Kishii reported.
“In Tokyo already today the major core transportation systems plans exist, they are already in place. All we need to do is implement those plans.
“We already have a plan for a ring road – it is not for the Olympics, it is a long-term Tokyo plan.”
Kishii described additional features that would be added during the Games should Tokyo’s bid be successful, including dedicated Olympic lanes.
But it was clear that work still needed to be done to prepare for 2020.
The Tokyo Bay Zone contains small masses of land that are interconnected with bridges; it is an area that will contain the Olympic Village, Press and Broadcast Centres and other venues.
Kishii agreed that this scenario is a challenge but dismissed any unusual vulnerability.
“Wherever you are the risk could exist,” he said.
“We have already studied evacuation routes,” he explained referencing the possibility of an emergency situation.
But then he identified the main challenge, one that may require further study.
“There is no railway,” he said, “the buses are the main means of transportation.”
Meanwhile, the EC wrapped up venue visits today.
At its conclusion, members of both the IOC and Tokyo 2020 teams posed for a group photo along with schoolchildren attired in various sport uniforms.
“Everything was organized on time,” Governor Naoki Inose said of the three days of tours organized by the bid.
“That shows we are able to do it [timely organization the Games].”
“I think the IOC members were able to see the compactness of the plan.”
Yesterday, the IOC provided recent survey results indicating that 70% of people in Tokyo support the bid. Inose said he was extremely pleased.
“70% was the target we were aiming at.”
He said that this was a typical strong number for developed countries.
“Tokyo, Japan, and the Japanese are United in inviting the IOC.”
Communications Director of Tokyo 2020 Tokuaki Suzuki was also pleased with the results of the venue visits.
His concern was “whether we could display sufficient passion,” he said.
Suzuki felt that the passion was delivered.
“I’d like to thanks Japanese media, children, athletes for this success; we could offer a rich experience to the EC members.”
“I think we have done everything we planned to do.”
The IOC visit will conclude Thursday after the remaining bid book themes are reviewed. Commission members will be attending a gala Wednesday evening at the Palace Hotel.
