東京五輪組織委 オールジャパンで祭典準備を

The Yomiuri Shimbun January 26, 2014
Efforts of entire nation necessary to prepare for successful 2020 Games
東京五輪組織委　オールジャパンで祭典準備を（1月25日付・読売社説）

The organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which was launched Friday, will promote preparations in coordination with the International Olympic Committee.
　２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの運営母体となる大会組織委員会が発足した。
　今後、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）と調整を図りながら、開催準備を進めていくことになる。

The efforts of the entire nation will be needed to make the Games successful, involving the government, the Tokyo metropolitan government, the Japanese Olympic Committee and business circles.
　政府、東京都、日本オリンピック委員会（ＪＯＣ）、経済界が一体となったオールジャパンの準備体制を築き、大会を成功に導かねばならない。

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was named head of the organizing committee. Mori, who also serves as head of the Japan Sports Association and Japan Rugby Football Union, has a wide range of personal connections in the sports world. He must take full advantage of these connections to facilitate communication within the organizing committee.
　組織委の会長には、森元首相が就任した。森氏は、日本体育協会、日本ラグビー協会の会長を務めるなど、スポーツ界全般にも幅広い人脈を持つ。それをフルに生かし、組織委内の意思疎通を図ってもらいたい。

The committee will be tasked with working out basic organizing plans by February next year and will take the lead in implementing those plans. It will also undertake public relations activities.
　組織委は来年２月までに開催基本計画をまとめ、計画遂行の指揮を執る。ＰＲ活動も展開する。

To secure the ¥300 billion in management funds needed to pay for the Olympics and Paralympics up through their conclusion six years from now, it is necessary to seek sponsorship fees and donations from as many companies as possible. Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, who has been informally appointed as vice head of the organizing committee, will have to display his ability in this regard.
　６年後の大会終了までに必要な運営費３０００億円を確保するため、多くの企業からスポンサー料や寄付金を募る必要がある。副会長に内定した豊田章男トヨタ自動車社長の手腕に期待がかかる。

Toshiro Muto, a former administrative vice finance minister, has assumed the post of secretary general in charge of supervising the practical business aspects of the Games. It will be vital for him to keep in mind the need to use the limited fiscal resources effectively.
　実務を取り仕切る事務総長には、元財務次官の武藤敏郎氏が就いた。限られた財源の有効活用に留意することが肝要だ。

Effective use of funds vital

The construction costs for the new National Stadium, which will be built with an injection of funds from state coffers, were initially estimated at ¥130 billion. But it was later found that the cost would balloon to ¥300 billion if the stadium was constructed based on the chosen design. Faced with criticism that this was excessive, the amount was reduced to ¥170 billion by adopting such measures as downsizing the total floor space.
　国費を投入する新国立競技場の建設費は当初、１３００億円とされたが、デザイン通りに建設すると３０００億円にまで膨らむことが分かった。巨大過ぎるとの批判も高まり、延べ床面積の縮小などで１７００億円に圧縮した。

If such over-optimistic estimations occur again, people may come to distrust the entire organizing plan.
　こうした甘い見積もりを繰り返せば、開催計画全体への不信感が広がるだろう。

In line with a contract signed with the IOC, it was decided to launch the organizing committee by early February.
　大会組織委については、２月初めまでに発足させることが、ＩＯＣとの契約で決まっていた。

The committee’s inauguration came just days before the deadline. It was delayed until Friday due to the scandal involving former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose. The governor was supposed to participate in discussions on selecting the organizing committee’s chief, but the choice was made without him as a result of his unexpected resignation.
　ぎりぎりのスタートとなったのは、猪瀬直樹・前都知事の不祥事が影響したためだ。都知事は組織委会長の人選を協議する役割を担っていたが、不在のまま会長が決まる想定外の事態となった。

A Tokyo governor bears a heavy responsibility in the organizing committee. The new governor to be elected in voting on Feb. 9 will serve as a member of the coordination conference along with Mori, Olympic minister Hakubun Shimomura and JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda, among others, to coordinate important matters.
　組織委においても、都知事の責任は重い。２月９日投票の都知事選で選ばれる新知事は、森会長、下村五輪相、竹田恒和・ＪＯＣ会長らとともに、「調整会議」のメンバーとして、大会運営に関わる重要事項の調整にあたる。

The new governor also needs to take responsibility over the use of ¥400 billion in funds held by the metropolitan government for construction of athletic facilities. In preparation for the Paralympics, it will also be necessary to build more barrier-free facilities in central Tokyo.
　競技場建設のために都が保有している４０００億円の基金の使途にも、責任を持つ必要がある。パラリンピックに備え、都心のバリアフリー化の推進も課題だ。

To ensure the smooth management of events, seeking to secure a stable supply of cheap electric power is also a major task for the governor as head of the host city.
　大会の円滑な運営のためには、開催都市のトップとして、安価な電力の安定的な確保に努めることも、重要な責務である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2014)
（2014年1月25日01時45分  読売新聞）