IOC VP John Coates said that the 2020 Olympics will "take on a radical new look, with its urban sports venues to be open for public use while the games are in progress," according to Shintaro Kano of KYODO. Following an IOC Coordination Commission visit of the Aomi Urban Sports Venue on Wednesday, Coates, who chairs the commission, said that fans will have an opportunity to "actually use the venues themselves during the Olympics for sports such as skateboard, sport climbing and the BMX freestyle." It would be the "first time a competition venue will be opened up for public use" during the Games. Coates said, "We're very pleased with this. As you know, we have introduced on your recommendation the new sports of sports climbing, skateboarding and surfing. And then recently, in cycling we've introduced BMX freestyle and with these sports what we want to do is bring them to the people, have them available to the people of Tokyo" (KYODO, 6/28).
CUT THE COSTS: The AAP reported Coates emphasized the "need for further cost cuts." The price tag of the 2020 Games has "ballooned since Tokyo won the bid, even after a major cost-cutting effort." Coates: "It is important to us that when the costs of the Games and the final analysis become public, they are going to be a reason to attract candidate cities. To attract them rather than to scare them off. We want to work with you in that regard. So if we appear to be pushing very hard on saving money it is for our own future that we do it, just as much as you want to do it for your taxpayers" (AAP, 6/28).