AFP, Tokyo :
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Wednesday dodged questions over reports some Tokyo 2020 events could be held in South Korea, a move which would further embarrass
beleaguered Games organisers.
The IOC is considering staging rowing and canoeing in the South Korean city of Chungju, according to Japanese media, as they try to slash a Tokyo 2020 budget which has skyrocketed to an estimated $28 billion — four times that of the initial bid.
But Bach was hurriedly ushered out of a scheduled press briefing in the Japanese capital after answering prepared questions from Tokyo Olympic officials that hinted at further friction between local organisers and city politicians.
With the Korean bombshell — which cited unnamed sources — making headlines, a media gathering was quickly shut down as nervous Tokyo organisers refused to allow more than 100 journalists to question Bach about the reports.
Stripping Japan of events would be seen a major humiliation for Tokyo organisers, although a Seoul sports ministry official told AFP the reports came as a “surprise” to them.
Bach and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Tuesday agreed to set up a four-party working group comprising Tokyo’s metropolitan government, the IOC, Games organisers and the Japanese government to try to rein in snowballing costs.
