AOC President John Coates Claims Tokyo 2021 Olympics Could be “Greatest Ever”

Despite a one year delay and the ever growing costs associated with the Tokyo Olympic Games, Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates says that the Games “may ultimately be amongst the great games ever, if not the greatest.” 

Coates’ remark came in a meeting with the Australian Olympic Committee regarding the state of the games. As a member of the International Olympic Committee, Coates is a member of the group that oversees planning for the Tokyo Games, which had to be delayed due to the Coronavirus. The games were originally scheduled to begin on July 24th of this year and end on August 9th. However, now they are set to take place almost exactly a year later, beginning on July 23, 2021 and ending on August 8, 2021. 

Ironically Coates’ remark mirrors the remarks that former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch made about the games that occurred in his native country. After the closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Samaranch called the games the “best ever”. 

Although planners are remaining optimistic, the Tokyo Games are shaping up to be costly. Although the country originally set aside $3.6 billion to cover the costs of hosting the games, the price had increased dramatically. According to a report issued by Japan last month, the country has officially spent $12.6 billion on the games. However, there are discrepancies as estimates show that the amount may actually be twice as much. With the delay, Japan is losing valuable economic revenue, costing an estimated additional $2 billion to $6 billion. In agreeing to host the games in 2013, Japan agreed to cover most of the expenses associated with them, meaning taxpayers are going to have to bear the brunt of the expenses. 

In recent weeks, the state of the Tokyo 2020 Games has been a major discussion. During an address in parliament, Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe said it would be “impossible” to host the games if Coronavirus isn’t contained. Meanwhile, IOC member Dick Pound said moving the games beyond 2021 would be “unrealistic”.