'New norm' shaved $4.3bn from Tokyo 2020 costs: IOC

BUENOS AIRES: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) asserted here Thursday that its "Agenda 2020" and "new norm" have already resulted in savings of $4.3 billion in regards to the costs of delivereing the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo. 

As per the IOC statement, this comprises $2.2 billion already saved during the review of the Tokyo 2020 Venue Master Plan and an additional $2.1 billion of savings mainly from the operational budget through the "new norm".

Of the 118 measures contained in the new norm, Tokyo has already fully implemented 49, while another 41 are being fully or partially applied. Some of those measures include shortening venue rental periods and optimising test event and overlay plans.

The IOC’s Tokyo 2020 coordination commission chair John Coates, who also leads the new norm working group for the IOC, said: “We can be pleased with these interim results, in particular, the $4.3 billion savings from Tokyo 2020. However, we are only part of the way there with Tokyo 2020. Our Japanese friends have embraced the new norm, but we still have work left to do, and we will continue our cost reduction efforts with them until the Closing Ceremony of those Games.”

However, the new norm’s impact extends far beyond Tokyo, with its influence felt around the Olympic world. The new norm was already partially applied in PyeongChang, where its implementation allowed the application of measures such as reducing the number of accredited seats, eliminating the secondary “mountain” international broadcast centre and using an existing building for the main press centre. These measures all contributed to the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee’s positive financial result, the IOC asserts.

In Beijing, 37 measures have already been applied, with a further 62 to be implemented either fully or partially. The IOC executive board was also updated about Beijing 2022’s progress in delivering a strong legacy from the Games, with eight million people in Beijing already getting involved in winter sport thanks to programmes being organised in conjunction with the city, which is a good step on China’s way to achieving its goal of 300 million people getting involved in winter sport. There was also strong progress reported on the marketing front, with eight partners currently on board.

PARIS 2024
Paris 2024 will see the new norm fully implemented, and this is already clear with the co-construction approach being adopted between the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee and Paris 2024. 

An important decision made by the executive board that was very much influenced by Olympic Agenda 2020 was the approval of Paris’ optimised Olympic Games venue concept. This optimised concept is built very much on the flexibility allowed by Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm, as well as on close collaboration amongst the different key partners in the process, such as the International Federations. The new concept will help to deliver the best possible Games experience for the athletes, spectators and television viewers; it will strengthen the legacy of the Games; and it will allow Paris to solidify its budget.