IOC gives backing to warring factions

TOKYO: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday predicted that bickering 2020 Tokyo Games organisers will come together to produce a workable budget as costs threaten to spiral out of control.

IOC vice president John Coates, who heads the coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics, insisted Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and local organising committee head Yoshiro Mori could find common ground despite clashing over proposed venue changes.

“Yes, I’m confident that governor Koike and president Mori and the two organisations that they lead can work together,” Coates told a news conference after concluding a two-day visit to Tokyo.

Koike and IOC president Thomas Bach last month agreed to hold discussions involving the stakeholders to explore ways to save money.