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TOKYO (Kyodo) – The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said on Tuesday that there was no "Plan B" if nominations for the Winter Games of 2026 in Stockholm and the withdrawal of two Italian cities were canceled, recalling that Sapporo was not an emergency option.
Sending exclusively to Kyodo News in Tokyo, Bach acknowledged that the two offers remained contested, while stating that the Swedish and Italian options – in Milan and Cortina – remained "excellent projects", in line with the Olympic program. reduction of IOC costs. 2020.
"We do not have a plan B, there is no plan B," said Bach, 64, himself an Olympian in 1976.
"Existing facilities (in Swedish and Italian offers) are widely used, these are traditional winter sports countries and regions and they still have to work, in a way or in a way. Another, to convince everyone to come together, to recognize, "he said.
On the prospect of Sapporo, the capital of the prefecture of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan, who had thrown his hat into the 2026 ring before focusing on a bid for 2030 and coming to the rescue, Bach said that it was not an option and that she had not come when he spoke to Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto.
"The Mayor expressed his thanks … for the IOC's sympathy for the victims of the earthquake in Sapporo and the region, as well as for the understanding we have shown, and in those circumstances they did not want to to follow on 2026. "
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook the southwestern part of Hokkaido, including Sapporo, on September 6, killing dozens of people.
He reiterated, however, that Sapporo had confirmed his intention to run for the Games of 2030 and that the intention of the city, as well as the expressions of interest from other parts of the world, testified to 39, a great confidence in the "power of the Olympic Games". . "
The German said, however, that the recent withdrawal of Calgary's candidacy in 2026 after 56.4% of residents voted against it after a plebiscite was an expression of a hostile climate. not a response to Olympic Games concerns.
He said people had lost confidence in the authorities to make such decisions and that if governments, businesses and the sports movement were all in agreement that the organization of the Olympics was a good one Despite the lack of support from the public, there must have been something wrong and they "do it because they just want to fill their pockets".
"It is precisely this wave of anti-establishment that exists in not only some Western countries," he added.
Faced with the adversity with which the offers of 2026 are presented, Bach was pleased to acknowledge the successes he has witnessed and the welcome he has received since arriving in Tokyo, his first visit since 2016.
Bach praised Tokyo 2020 organizers who have already largely exceeded their quota of 80,000 volunteers for the 2020 Games, of whom 44% are non-Japanese citizens.
"I think that (the interest of foreign volunteers) is something that Japan and Japan should be really proud of, because it shows the trust and shows how much the people of the world are eagerly awaiting these Olympic Games. Japan and all want to be part of it, "he said.
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee hoped that the marathons would be postponed to 6 am in order to defeat the summer heat of Tokyo, the IOC President made it clear that the decision would be made with the athletes' well-being as main concern and that any other challenge can be overcome.
Asked about the prospect of the athletics finals, such as the swimming events, moved in the morning, Bach said the IOC was open to this opportunity because it allows the widest possible audience to see the presented athletes.
"It's sometimes difficult, it's a headache, because you have 28 sports fighting for the best place in the program, but from what I've heard so far, I think it will good solution for everyone. "
Bach also said that he was considering going to Hiroshima during the 2020 Tokyo Torch Relay, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
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