According to a study by Japan's audit board, the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics last year cost 20% more than the final amount disclosed by the organising committee.
Tokyo: According to a study by Japan’s audit board, the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics last year cost 20% more than the final amount disclosed by the organising committee. As per a report issued late on Wednesday, the Games cost 1.7 trillion yen ($12.9 billion), up from the 1.42 trillion yen stated by Tokyo 2020 earlier this year. The audit board found that the organisers had improperly omitted some government spending associated with the Olympics on things like anti-doping procedures, athlete training, Japanese food at the athletes village, and the Olympic stadium.
The government was encouraged in the report to “disclose the overall expenditures in a timely way when it is substantially involved in a large event” in the future.
The 2013 Tokyo Games bid anticipated that the event would cost only 734 billion yen; however, expenditures had skyrocketed due to the event’s year-long postponement.
The administration takes the points seriously and will respond appropriately, government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters when asked about the expenditures on Thursday.
The Tokyo Olympics were the first Olympics to be postponed in peacetime because of a pandemic; the Games were held a year later than expected, and spectators were prohibited from watching all events, which were held under tight COVID-19 precautions.
A number of bid rigging charges are now being investigated by Japanese authorities in connection with the Tokyo Games sponsorship agreements.
A former executive of a major clothing firm knocked on the door of the court and alleged bribery took place with money offered to officials to secure sponsorship rights for his firm, national broadcaster NHK said.
The corrupt practise that occurred during the Tokyo Olympics has dimmed the prospects of winning Sapporo’s bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
This week, officials have decided to stop holding promotional events for the bid and are planning to hold a nationwide vote to get support.
