Olympic Body in Drive to Curb Venue-Building Frenzy

Thomas Bach

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has flagged the possibility of cutting costs for hosting the Games by using existing venues, in neighboring countries if need be, rather than building new ones.

"There of course can also be venue changes being discussed if such venue changes lead to more sustainability and to less expenses," Bach told reporters on Saturday after an IOC executive committee meeting in Monaco.

He said if proposed changes known as Agenda 2020 are approved and more flexibility becomes possible, "then we will start the implementation for this right after the approval."

Korea could also be affected. "There will be project reviews in both organizing cities (Tokyo and Pyeongchang) in January and February to follow up on this and see what the Olympic Agenda 2020 means for their organization of the Games," Bach added.

Agenda 2020 includes 40 recommendations aimed at improving the way the Olympics are hosted. Media quoted an unnamed IOC official as saying there is a possibility of the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events being held at existing sports facilities in other countries.

Officials in the government and the organizing committee for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang said the changes would be "difficult to accept" since construction has already begun and the public might be against it. But they added the IOC seems very insistent.

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