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Venues secured for delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics: organisers

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/afp/07/16/countdown-clock-of-the-tokyo-2020-olympics.jpg"/><figcaption>A man sits next to a countdown clock of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics games in Roppongi area of Tokyo on June 12, 2020. <em>Philip Fong, AFP.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Tokyo 2020 organisers said Friday they have secured all the venues needed to hold the Olympics next summer, clearing a major hurdle to hosting the event postponed over the coronavirus.</p><p>Refunds for ticket holders unable to attend the rescheduled games will begin in late 2020, they added.</p><p>Tokyo 2020 reported the progress during an online meeting with the International Olympic Committee, confirming that the delayed Games will use all the venues originally booked for the event.</p><p>The 2021 event schedule will also be largely the same as the original, except for small changes made for logistical reasons, said Hidemasa Nakamura, Tokyo 2020 games delivery officer.</p><p>&quot;There is still work to be done. But we have arrived at a major milestone,&quot; Nakamura told a briefing in Tokyo ahead of the IOC meeting.</p><p>With the schedule set, athletes can now begin to prepare in earnest for the delayed Games, due to open on July 23, 2021, said Koji Murofushi, Tokyo 2020 sports director.</p><p>&quot;Now athletes aiming to take part in the Tokyo Olympics can set concrete goals to work toward,&quot; he said.</p><p>The Games&#x27; unprecedented delay has caused major logistical headaches and the final price tag for the postponement remains unclear.</p><p>Nakamura said organisers were continuing to discuss where to slash costs, adding that changes to &quot;the opening and closing ceremonies are also on the table&quot;.</p><p>Among the myriad additional costs yet to be tallied will be compensation for businesses that have had their reservations at Olympic venues cancelled to make way for rescheduled events.</p><div><strong>hih/sah/kaf</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>For more sports coverage, visit the<a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/"> ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</strong><br/> </div>

<p>Tokyo 2020 organisers said Friday they have secured all the venues needed to hold the Olympics next summer, clearing a major hurdle to hosting the event postponed over the coronavirus.<br /> </p>

Tokyo 2020 organisers said Friday they have secured all the venues needed to hold the Olympics next summer, clearing a major hurdle to hosting the event postponed over the coronavirus.