Tokyo makes plans for newly built Olympic/Paralympic venues post-2020

TOKYO >> To prevent newly built venues for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics from turning into white elephants after the games, the Tokyo metropolitan government is already working to select private companies to manage and operate them.

Of the six new athletic facilities being built for the Olympics, the Tokyo government will begin selecting operators for five facilities this month and for the remaining one next spring. By allowing private operators to start activities to promote the use of these facilities before the Olympics begin, the Tokyo government hopes they will be fully booked for one year after the Tokyo games.

“It’s unusual for facility operators to be decided on more than a year in advance,” a senior official of the metropolitan government said.

The six new facilities in Tokyo include the Olympic Aquatics Center for swimming events in Koto Ward; the Sea Forest Waterway for rowing and other events around the central breakwater in Tokyo Bay; and the Canoe Slalom Course in Edogawa Ward.

Ariake Arena, the venue for volleyball and other events in Koto Ward, is expected to be profitable after the Olympics as it could be used for various purposes such as concerts. The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to sell the rights to operate the facility to a private entity.

The remaining five facilities have to be used for their respective sports after the games. Making a profit may be difficult, due to their focus on specific sports.

According to estimates by the Tokyo government, the aquatics center will incur a loss of $5.6 million a year, and the waterway will lose $1.4 million a year.

These facilities will be operated under a system in which a private administrator is designated to operate public facilities. Since the Tokyo government will cover the expected losses, operators will be able to concentrate on their efforts to make a profit.

The Tokyo government will choose operators for these facilities to allow promotional campaigns to start as early as possible.

Tokyo hopes the operators will be able to attract international competitions and other sports- related events before and during the Olympics, when Tokyo is receiving global attention.

The Tokyo government hopes to obtain necessary permission from the Tokyo metropolitan assembly to proceed with plans. “We want to increase revenues as much as possible by offering time and opportunities for operators so that they can make the most of their expertise,” a Tokyo government official said.

In other host countries, some facilities constructed at huge expense have been left deserted. This includes some from the 2004 Athens games, the 2008 Beijing games and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games.

Tokyo officials are trying to follow the example of London, which hosted the 2012 games. City officials there made plans before the games to allow some venues to be used for concerts and other events.

“Every time we have meetings with IOC officials, we’re asked detailed questions about plans for post-Olympic use of the facilities,” a source involved in the Tokyo games said.