2020 Olympics: Sailing venue must be moved

Plans to build a new Olympic sailing marina next to Tokyo Gate Bridge in Tokyo Bay have been abandoned, as part of ongoing changes to the original Tokyo 2020 blueprint that are intended to shave costs by well over $1 billion. The actual location that will be used remains uncertain, with a number of venues – both near and further away from Tokyo – under consideration.

According to a senior International Olympic Committee source, the original Wakasu Olympic Marina, priced in the bid book at $105 million, would in fact have entailed construction of a breakwater costing more than $400 million.

This requirement could have been removed by switching the venue inland to an existing sailing centre not far from Wakasu. However, this gave rise to another issue, since live coverage of sailing entails the use of helicopters which would require clearance from authorities at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

It is still not clear if permission can be obtained. – InsideTheGames.biz