Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said the rescheduled Games will set the blueprint for future Olympics as the world marks a year to go for the second time.
The Olympics had been originally scheduled to take place between 24 July and 9 August 2020 but were postponed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic and they are now due to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2021.
There has been much speculation as to what form the Games will take or whether they will even go ahead a year down the line should a vaccine not be found.
On Wednesday, Mori rejected the suggestion that they be held without spectators after International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said last week that staging the Games behind closed doors is one of the scenarios that is being examined.
Last month Mori and and Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto announced that 200 items were under review as they look to cut costs and secure the safety of everyone involved.
A poll conducted by Kyodo News at the weekend found that only 23.9% of those questioned wanted to see the Games go ahead next year while 36.4% support a further delay and 33.7% think they should be cancelled.
Mori said in a press conference to mark a year to go:
“We shall not be caught up by precedent and will make these Games entirely different from those in the past, ones that are safe, secure and simplified.”
IOC president Bach echoed Mori’s sentiments, saying:
“With our Japanese partners and friends, we agree that we have to adapt the planning of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to the requirements of the global crisis, while maintaining the unique spirit and message that define our mission.
“We are working to optimise the operations and services without touching on sports and athletes. In this way we can, together with the Organising Committee, turn these postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 into an unprecedented celebration of the unity and solidarity of humankind, making them a symbol of resilience and hope. Showing that we are stronger together.”
He added:
“With only one year to go, a mammoth task still lies ahead of us. I would like to thank our Japanese partners and friends, headed by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro and Governor Koike Yuriko, and the athletes, all the Summer Olympic International Federations, the NOCs, TOP Sponsors and Rights-Holding Broadcasters.
“Without their solidarity and support, we could not have taken this historic joint decision to postpone the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. I am deeply impressed and grateful for the extraordinary progress already being made in the preparations since the joint postponement decision.”
Governing bodies from around the world marked the one-year countdown on social media.
Team GB posted a message strong enough to thaw the coldest of hearts narrated by two-time Olympic taekwondo medallist Lutalo Muhammad.
Looking back to Tokyo 1964, Muhammad said:
“We were due to meet again this summer but nothing could have prepared us for what happened.
“The world is hurting right now and it needs time to heal.
“We will be apart for another year but they say absence makes the heart grow fonder and this much we know is true.”
The Australia Olympic Committee also posted:
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